lung imaging technology for transplant patients

New Lung Imaging Technique Reveals Real-Time Treatment Impact

Introduction to the New Lung Imaging Technology

The new lung imaging technology offers real-time visualization of treatment outcomes, allowing specialists to monitor transplanted lung activity effectively.

This advancement allows medical professionals to detect declines in lung function at an earlier stage.

Research and Development at Newcastle University

Visualizing Airflow Dynamics in Lung Disease

Researchers at Newcastle University, UK, have utilized the scanning method to visualize airflow dynamics during breathing in asthma, COPD, and lung transplant patients.

Detailed Use of Perfluoropropane Gas in MRI Scans

In two complementary papers in Radiology and JHLT Open, the team details their use of perfluoropropane gas, visible on MRI scans, which patients can safely inhale and exhale to monitor gas distribution in the lungs.

Key Contributions from Professor Pete Thelwall

Highlights of the Scanning Technology

The projects led by Professor Pete Thelwall, a Professor of Magnetic Resonance Physics and Director of the Center for In Vivo Imaging at Newcastle University.

He stated, "Our scans highlight areas of uneven ventilation in patients with lung disease and track improvements in lung function with treatment. For example, by scanning a patient after using asthma medication, we can assess which lung regions better support air exchange with each breath."

Applications of the Scanning Technique in Lung Disease

Identifying Poor Ventilation Areas in the Lungs

Through the new scanning method, the team can identify areas of the lung where air flow is inadequate during breathing. By assessing the extent of well-ventilated versus poorly ventilated lung regions, experts can evaluate the impact of a patient's respiratory condition and pinpoint areas with ventilation deficiencies.

Demonstrating Effectiveness in Asthma and COPD Patients

The team, consisting of experts from various universities and NHS Trusts in Newcastle and Sheffield, demonstrated the effectiveness of the scans in patients with asthma or COPD, publishing their findings in Radiology.

Measuring Treatment Impact on Lung Ventilation

The new scanning technique enables the team to measure the extent of ventilation improvement when patients are treated, such as with the widely used bronchodilator salbutamol, highlighting its potential value in clinical trials for lung disease treatments.

Video

The team utilizes the new scanning method to identify areas of the lung where airflow is insufficient during breathing. Credit: Newcastle University, UK.

Utilization in Lung Transplants

Study Focus on Lung Transplant Recipients

A subsequent study, published in JHLT Open, focused on patients who had previously undergone lung transplants for severe lung disease at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. It illustrates how the team enhanced the imaging method to provide lung function measurements, potentially improving support for lung transplant recipients in the future.

Early Detection of Lung Function Changes in Transplant Patients

The measurement's high sensitivity enables medical professionals to detect early shifts in lung function, facilitating the identification of lung issues sooner and improving patient care.

MRI Imaging for Transplant Patients

In their research, the team conducted lung scans on transplant reci pients over several breaths, ca pturing MRI images that reveal how the gas-laden air reaches various lung regions.

Chronic Rejection and Airflow Limitations

The team conducted scans on individuals with either healthy lung function or those facing chronic rejection after a lung transplant, a frequent complication in transplant recipients due to immune system attacks on the donor lungs.

In individuals with chronic rejection, the scans revealed reduced airflow to the lung's periphery, likely caused by damage to the tiny airways, a hallmark of chronic rejection, also referred to as chronic lung allograft dysfunction.

Expert Opinions on the Novel Scanning Technique

Professor Andrew Fisher, Professor of Respiratory Transplant Medicine at Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, UK, and co-author of the study, stated, "We believe this novel scanning technique could enable us to detect changes in transplant lungs earlier, potentially before conventional tests show any sings of damage. This would facilitate earlier treatment and help prevent further harm to the transplanted lungs."

Future Potential of the Imaging Technique

The team believes this scanning technique has the potential to play a crucial role in the clinical management of lung transplant recipients and other lung diseases in the future, offering a highly sensitive measure that could detect early changes in lung function for improved management.

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