Using Hyperpolarized 3He MRI to Evaluate Therapeutics in Cystic Fibrosis Patients

摘要: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease impairing chloride permeability in epithelial cells; CF causes thick, viscous mucus, leading to lung congestion, frequent infections, and over time, debilitating lung damage. In this study, we used HP 3He static ventilation MRI scans to assess improvement of lung ventilation in three CF patients following treatment with intravenous antibiotics, daily administration of hypertonic saline, and administration of rhDNase. In one of the subjects, there was a 25% increase in ventilation measured by HP 3He MRI following treatment, which corresponded with spirometry. The other two subjects showed no changes in 3He ventilation.