fMRI and PET-CT in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Functional MRI and PET-CT in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
IRAS ID
161232
Contact name
Simon Hart
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospital NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 1 days
Research summary
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating lung disease associated with significant morbidity and early mortality. The disease course in IPF is heterogeneous with some patients having slow lung function decline and others having rapid lung function decline with disabling symptoms leading to death. Clinical models to aid prognostication remain unproven in the general IPF population. There is a lack of biomarkers to monitor therapy response, identify active disease and aid prognostication. New imaging modalities that provide structural and functional information may address this.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) of the lung provides functional information about ventilation, perfusion and gas transfer regionally within the lung. Monitoring these variables over time will provide greater insight into the relationship between structural and functional changes in the lung over time. Gadolinium contrast enhancement within areas of fibrosis may represent ‘active’ fibrosis. If confirmed this would allow identification of patients with active disease with potential prognostic implications and application in assessing response to therapies. MRI does not use ionising radiation and therefore has benefits as a tool for monitoring disease progression with serial imaging over time.
Positron emission tomography - computerised tomography (PET-CT) combines conventional CT using x-rays to provide structural information and the radioisotope fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to identify metabolically active tissues. PET-CT is used widely in thoracic imaging in cancer staging but also has utility in identifying other metabolically active processes. FDG uptake detected on PET-CT has been described within areas of fibrosis in IPF.
This pilot study will use combined PET-CT and functional lung MRI imaging to establish structural and functional changes in the lungs of IPF patients over time. Additionally, pilot data will be generated correlating FDG uptake on PET-CT, gadolinium enhancement on MRI and structural and functional changes in the lung overtime measured using fMRI and conventional physiological measurements.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Leeds East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/YH/0534
Date of REC Opinion
21 Dec 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion