MRI of transplanted lung function

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Using MRI scans to measure how well transplanted lungs are working

  • IRAS ID

    309493

  • Contact name

    Andrew Fisher

  • Contact email

    a.j.fisher@ncl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    In this study we will use advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods to visualise and quantify lung ventilation properties in patients who have received a lung transplant. We will compare two patients cohorts: patients with and without chronic lung rejection (also called chronic lung allograft dysfunction). The study purpose is to characterise the difference in regional lung ventilation properties between these two groups. The primary measurement is a relatively new approach to ventilation imaging, where an inert MRI-visible gas (perfluoropropane) is inhaled and imaged in the lungs to report on lung ventilation properties, identifying areas of normal lung ventilation, reduced ventilation and/or areas of air trapping (ie. areas where the air does not leave the lung as normal).
    If successful, our study will demonstrate the ability of lung MRI methods to report on changes in regional lung ventilation associated with lung allograft dysfunction, providing a safely repeatable alternative to existing clinical ventilation imaging assessments that rely on radioisotopes or ionising radiation. With this approach, we hope to be able to detect patients with early signs of chronic lung allograft dysfunction.

  • REC name

    East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    22/EM/0075

  • Date of REC Opinion

    31 Mar 2022

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion