Three-dimensional Ultrashort Echotime Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Combined Morphologic and Ventilation Imaging in Pediatric Patients With Pulmonary Disease.

PURPOSE: Ultrashort echotime (UTE) sequences aim to improve the signal yield in pulmonary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We demonstrate the initial results of spiral 3-dimensional (3D) UTE-MRI for combined morphologic and functional imaging in pediatric patients. METHODS: Seven pediatric patients with pulmonary abnormalities were included in this observational, prospective, single-center study, with the patients having the following conditions: cystic fibrosis (CF) with middle lobe atelectasis, CF with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, air trapping, congenital lobar overinflation, congenital pulmonary airway malformation, and pulmonary hamartoma.Patients were scanned during breath-hold in 5 breathing states on a 3-Tesla system using a prototypical 3D stack-of-spirals UTE sequence. Ventilation maps and signal intensity maps were calculated. Morphologic images, ventilation-weighted maps, and signal intensity maps of the lungs of each patient were assessed intraindividually and compared with reference examinations. RESULTS: With a scan time of ∼15 seconds per breathing state, 3D UTE-MRI allowed for sufficient imaging of both "plus" pathologies (atelectasis, inflammatory consolidation, and pulmonary hamartoma) and "minus" pathologies (congenital lobar overinflation, congenital pulmonary airway malformation, and air trapping). Color-coded maps of normalized signal intensity and ventilation increased diagnostic confidence, particularly with regard to "minus" pathologies. UTE-MRI detected new atelectasis in an asymptomatic CF patient, allowing for rapid and successful therapy initiation, and it was able to reproduce atelectasis and hamartoma known from multidetector computed tomography and to monitor a patient with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. CONCLUSION: 3D UTE-MRI using a stack-of-spirals trajectory enables combined morphologic and functional imaging of the lungs within ~115 second acquisition time and might be suitable for monitoring a wide spectrum of pulmonary diseases.

Pooled analysis of two large randomised phase III inhaled mannitol studies in cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate safety and efficacy of inhaled mannitol treatment in subgroups of a large global CF population. METHODS: Data were pooled from two multicentre, double-blind, randomised, controlled, parallel group phase III studies in which 600 patients inhaled either mannitol (400 mg) or control (mannitol 50 mg) twice a day for 26 weeks. RESULTS: Both the mean absolute change in FEV(1) (mL) and relative change in FEV(1) by % predicted from baseline for mannitol (400 mg) versus control were statistically significant (73.42 mL, 3.56%, both p<0.001). Increases in FEV(1) were observed irrespective of rhDNase use. Significant improvements in FEV1 occurred in adults but not children (6-11) or adolescents (aged 12-17). Pulmonary exacerbation incidence was reduced by 29% (p=0.039) in the mannitol (400 mg) group. CONCLUSIONS: Sustained six-month improvements in lung function and decreased pulmonary exacerbation incidence indicate that inhaled mannitol is an important additional drug in the treatment of CF.

Long-term inhaled dry powder mannitol in cystic fibrosis: an international randomized study.

RATIONALE: New treatment strategies are needed to improve airway clearance and reduce the morbidity and the time burden associated with cystic fibrosis (CF). OBJECTIVES: To determine whether long-term treatment with inhaled mannitol, an osmotic agent, improves lung function and morbidity. METHODS: Double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of inhaled mannitol, 400 mg twice a day (n = 192, "treated" group) or 50 mg twice a day (n = 126, "control" group) for 26 weeks, followed by 26 weeks of open-label treatment. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary endpoint was absolute change in FEV(1) from baseline in treated versus control groups, averaged over the study period. Secondary endpoints included other spirometric measurements, pulmonary exacerbations, and hospitalization. Clinical, microbiologic, and laboratory safety were assessed. The treated group had a mean improvement in FEV(1) of 105 ml (8.2% above baseline). The treated group had a relative improvement in FEV(1) of 3.75% (P = 0.029) versus the control group. Adverse events and sputum microbiology were similar in both treatment groups. Exacerbation rates were low, but there were fewer in the treated group (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.42-1.32; P = 0.31), although this was not statistically significant. In the 26-week open-label extension study, FEV(1) was maintained in the original treated group, and improved in the original control group to the same degree. CONCLUSIONS: Inhaled mannitol, 400 mg twice a day, resulted in improved lung function over 26 weeks, which was sustained after an additional 26 weeks of treatment. The safety profile was also acceptable, demonstrating the potential role for this chronic therapy for CF. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 00630812).