Title

3D MR spirometry in children with asthma

Leading partner

Erasmus

Work Package

WP1

Sites

Erasmus MC-Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Population

30 children (15 girls and 15 boys) with asthma with different degrees of functional severity will be recruited prospectively within their annual follow-up program to undergo chest CT, spirometry and 3D MR spirometry on the same day

Objectives

1. Validate 3D MR spirometry against spirometry in asthma patients
2. Assess the sensitivity of 3D MR spirometry to asthma severity
3. Assess the regional lung structural and functional changes with asthma severity using 3D MR spirometry
4. Assess the regional lung structural and functional changes with asthma severity using 3D MR spirometry
5. Establish reference flow-volume loop maps in asthma patients with 3D MR spirometry
6. Assess the sensitivity of 3D MR spirometry to short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs) effect on SAD

Examination

All included patients will have spirometry and 3D MR spirometry performed the same day at Erasmus MC hospital. Spirometry will be performed in two positions (sitting and supine) and during two types of respiration (spontaneous and forced). MRI scans will be repeated after bronchodilator inhalation. MRI scans will be acquired using a MR compatible spirometer to standardize lung volume and breathing manoeuvres.
3D MR spirometry will be performed on a 1.5 T MR imaging system (GE Healthcare) at Erasmus MC hospital. Patients will breath freely in a supine position during MR acquisition. Dynamic 3D lung images will be reconstructed by GE (WP1) and processed by UPSaclay (WP2) to primarily provide maps of flow-volume loops and maps of fractional anisotropy strain metric.