title: Using imaging as a biomarker for asthma.
abstract: There have been significant advancements in the various imaging techniques being used for the evaluation of asthmatic patients, both from a clinical and research perspective. Imaging characteristics can be used to identify specific asthmatic phenotypes and provide a more detailed understanding of endotypes contributing to the pathophysiology of the disease. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography can be used to assess pulmonary structure and function. It has been shown that specific airway and lung density measurements using computed tomography correlate with clinical parameters, including severity of disease and pathology, but also provide unique phenotypes. Hyperpolarized129Xe and3He are gases used as contrast media for magnetic resonance imaging that provide measurement of distal lung ventilation reflecting small-airway disease. Positron emission tomography can be useful to identify and target lung inflammation in asthmatic patients. Furthermore, imaging techniques can serve as a potential biomarker and be used to assess response to therapies, including newer biological treatments and bronchial thermoplasty.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo.
authors.forename: Abhaya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo.
authors.forename: Chase
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Radiology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.affiliation: Center for Pulmonary Imaging Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Gierada
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo. Electronic address: castrom@wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castro
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: Imaging; MRI; PET; biomarker; chest CT