129Xe/3He MRI in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients. Version 1.0

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Use of Functional MRI to understand the pathophysiology of abnormalities of gas exchange in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and systemic sclerosis

• IRAS ID

  103227

• Contact name

  Moira Whyte

• Sponsor organisation

  Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

• Eudract number

  2012-003760-50

• ISRCTN Number

  N/A

• Research summary

  Pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lung tissue) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the blood vessels within the lungs) are both life threatening conditions which can be seen in isolation, or in association with other disease processes such as systemic sclerosis. In addition, both pulmonary fibrosis (specifically a condition called IPF or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis) and pulmonary hypertension (PAH) may be seen in the same patient and then the prognosis is particularly poor. In both conditions there is a reduction in the amount of oxygen transferring from the air breathed in and into the blood. These are serious and progressive lung diseases in which damage to the lining of the lungs results in progressive scarring in IPF and where damage to the blood vessels bringing blood into the lungs in PAH results in an inability to oxygenate the blood. In areas where the lung is extensively damaged, the oxygen levels are lower (hypoxia) than in more normal areas. There are also areas where there is extensive inflammation i.e. the presence of white blood cells that have travelled into the lung (inflammation) and which are thought to cause further lung damage. Our research has revealed that oxygen levels are an important determinant of white blood cell numbers in low oxygen areas. We wish to use special MRI lung scans to study levels of hypoxia, inflammation and interstitial scarring in the IPF lung and how these affect the functioning of the lung.

• REC name

  North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  12/NE/0355

• Date of REC Opinion

  25 Oct 2012

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion