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Updated: Mar 21, 2026
08:26
Quantitative Mapping of Specific Ventilation in the Human Lung using Proton Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Oxygen as a Contrast Agent
Published on: June 5, 2019
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Is ventilation heterogeneity related to asthma control?
Sarah Svenningsen1, Parameswaran Nair2, Fumin Guo3
1Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
The European Respiratory Journal
|May 14, 2016
Summary
In severe asthma, MRI-detected ventilation defects, not lung clearance index, independently predict poor asthma control and quality of life. This highlights MRI
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Radiology
- Respiratory Physiology
Background:
- Persistent ventilation heterogeneity is observed in asthma patients.
- The relationship between ventilation defects and asthma control remains unclear.
- Severe, poorly controlled asthma requires better understanding of disease markers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association of MRI-defined ventilation defects and lung clearance index (LCI) with asthma control.
- To explore the link between these ventilation measures and quality of life in severe asthma.
- To identify independent predictors of asthma control and quality of life.
Main Methods:
- 18 patients with severe, poorly controlled asthma underwent spirometry, LCI, and 3He MRI.
- Asthma control was assessed using the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ).
- Quality of life was measured using the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ).
- Ventilation heterogeneity was quantified by LCI and MRI ventilation defect percent (VDP).
Main Results:
- All participants had poorly controlled asthma (ACQ score 2.3±0.9) and heterogeneous ventilation (VDP 12±11%, LCI 10.5±3.0).
- VDP and LCI were strongly correlated (r=0.86, p<0.0001).
- In a multivariate model, VDP was the sole independent predictor of asthma control (R²=0.38, p=0.01).
- Worse VDP, but not LCI, was associated with higher ACQ scores (p=0.04) and lower AQLQ scores (p=0.04).
- A trend towards worse VDP (p=0.053) was observed in patients with recent exacerbations.
Conclusions:
- In severe, poorly controlled asthma, MRI-derived ventilation defect percent (VDP) is a significant independent predictor of asthma control.
- VDP, unlike LCI, correlates with worse asthma control and quality of life.
- 3He MRI-based VDP may serve as a valuable imaging biomarker for assessing disease severity and control in severe asthma.
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