Hyperpolarized He-3 MR lung ventilation imaging in asthmatics: Preliminaryfindings

Asthma Is a disease characterized by chronic inflammation and reversible ob struction of the small airways resulting in impaired pulmonary ventilation. Hyperpolarized He-3 magnetic resonance (MR) lung imaging is a new technolo gy that provides a detailed image of lung ventilation. Hyperpolarized He-3 lung imaging was performed In 10 asthmatics and 10 healthy subjects. Seven asthmatics had ventilation defects distributed throughout the lungs compare d with none of the normal subjects. These ventilation defects were more num erous and larger in the two symptomatic asthmatics who had abnormal spirome try. Ventilation defects studied over time demonstrated no change in appear ance over 30-60 minutes. One asthmatic subject was studied twice in a three -week period and had ventilation defects which resolved and appeared In tha t time. This same subject was studied before and after bronchodilator thera py, and all ventilation defects resolved after therapy. Hyperpolarized He-3 lung imaging can detect the small, reversible ventilation defects that cha racterize asthma. The ability to visualize lung ventilation offers a direct method of assessing asthmatics and their response to therapy. (C) 2001 Wil ey-Liss, Inc.