Asthma Exacerbation and Helium-3 MRI

• Status: Withdrawn
• Trial end date: 2011-08-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

The goal of this research is to use Helium-3 MRI to see the changes in airflow of the lungs at different times of an attack. These three stages are immediately after the attack, 1 month later and 4-6 months later.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Massachusetts, Worcester

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• At least 18 years old

• Able to speak and read English

• Acute asthma exacerbation, defined as requirement for hospitalization or emergent outpatient visit, and treatment with high dose corticosteroids ( 40mg prednisone or equivalent)

• FEV1 < 80% predicted on the day of MRI

• Attending physician agrees that patient is safe to participate on the day of the MRI scan

Exclusion Criteria

• Evidence of pneumonia, based on chest radiograph obtained within 24 hours of enrollment (if performed)

• Documented fever or requirement for antibiotics

• Unable to hold breath for 10 seconds

• Active smoker or history of at least 10 pack years cigarette smoking

• Chest radiograph with active pulmonary disease, except for changes expected with asthma (hyperinflation, subsegmental atelectasis)

• Admission to ICU

• For inpatients: contraindication to leaving hospital room for MRI as determined by Attending physician and RN on day of MRI

• Any other concurrent active pulmonary disease or other unstable or active medical condition (including suspected active coronary ischemia, acute bleeding), as determined by Attending physician

• Pregnancy as self reported

• Need for cardiac monitoring

• Need supplemental oxygen at an amount of 4L/min or a facemask