title: Dynamic oxygen-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of the lung in asthma -- initial experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To prospectively estimate the feasibility and reproducibility of dynamic oxygen-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (OE-MRI) in the assessment of regional oxygen delivery, uptake and washout in asthmatic lungs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was approved by the National Research Ethics Committee and written informed consent was obtained. Dynamic OE-MRI was performed twice at one month apart on four mild asthmatic patients (23±5 years old, FEV1=96±3% of predicted value) and six severe asthmatic patients (41±12 years old, FEV1=60±14% of predicted value) on a 1.5T MR scanner using a two-dimensional T1-weighted inversion-recovery turbo spin echo sequence. The enhancing fraction (EF), the maximal change in the partial pressure of oxygen in lung tissue (ΔPO2max_l) and arterial blood of the aorta (ΔPO2max_a), and the oxygen wash-in (τup_l, τup_a) and wash-out (τdown_l, τdown_a) time constants were extracted and compared between groups using the independent-samples t-test (two-tailed). Correlations between imaging readouts and clinical measurements were assessed by Pearson's correlation analysis. Bland-Altman analysis was used to estimate the levels of agreement between the repeat scans and the intra-observer agreement in the MR imaging readouts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The severe asthmatic group had significantly smaller EF (70±16%) and median ΔPO2max_l (156±52mmHg) and significantly larger interquartile range of τup_l (0.84±0.26min) than the mild asthmatic group (95±3%, P=0.014; 281±40mmHg, P=0.004; 0.20±0.07min, P=0.001, respectively). EF, median ΔPO2max_l and τdown_l and the interquartile range of τup_l and τdown_l were significantly correlated with age and pulmonary function test parameters (r=-0.734 to -0.927, 0.676-0.905; P=0.001-0.045). Median ΔPO2max_l was significantly correlated with ΔPO2max_a (r=0.745, P=0.013). Imaging readouts showed good one-month reproducibility and good intra-observer agreement (mean bias between repeated scans and between two observations did not significantly deviate from zero).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dynamic OE-MRI is feasible in asthma and sensitive to the severity of disease. The technique provides indices related to regional oxygen delivery, uptake and washout that show good one month reproducibility and intra-observer agreement.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Imaging Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Biomedical Imaging Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. Electronic address: weijuan.zhang@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Wei-Juan
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: North West Lung Research Centre, University Hospital of South Manchester, Southmoor Road, Manchester M23 9LT, UK. Electronic address: robert.niven@uhsm.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Niven
authors.affiliation: Personalised Healthcare and Biomarkers, AstraZeneca R&D, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TF, UK. Electronic address: Simon.Young1@astrazeneca.com.
authors.forename: Simon S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Personalised Healthcare and Biomarkers, AstraZeneca R&D, Alderley Park, Macclesfield SK10 4TF, UK. Electronic address: yu-zhen.liu@astrazeneca.com.
authors.forename: Yu-Zhen
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Centre for Imaging Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Biomedical Imaging Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Bioxydyn Limited, Rutherford House, Pencroft Way, Manchester M15 6SZ, UK. Electronic address: Geoff.parker@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Geoffrey J M
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Centre for Imaging Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; Biomedical Imaging Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. Electronic address: Josephine.naish@manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Josephine H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Naish
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Asthma; Human; Magnetic resonance imaging; Oxygen