Multi Breath Nitrogen Washout (MBNW) as a Measure of Small Airway Function in Patients With Respiratory Disease

Measurements of Inhomogeneity of the Small Airway With Patients With Cystic Fibrosis, Asthma and Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (Post Transplant) Using the Multi Breath Nitrogen Washout Technique

The researchers are investigating a novel technique, the multi breath nitrogen washout technique, to measure airway changes in various respiratory diseases.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Asthma; Cystic Fibrosis; Bronchiolitis Obliterans; Lung Transplantation

Detailed Description

It is well documented that there are significant ventilatory changes in respiratory diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma and the onset of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) following chronic rejection of lung transplantation. At present, we use measures such as spirometry and lung biopsies to determine the changes of airway function and disease severity. Our aim is to develop a novel technique called the multi breath nitrogen washout (MBNW) which we believe is able to measure the inhomogeneity of ventilation in both the larger airways (conductive region, generation 1 - 16) as well as the smaller airways (acinar region 17 - 23). Our belief is that these measurements are much more subtle than current techniques and will be more sensitive in measuring large and small airway changes in disease. The MBNW can also give us an insight as to which particular zones of the lung are affected in differing respiratory disease. For example, it is believed that BOS begins at the distal portion of the lung (acinar region) and proceeds towards the proximal zone (conductive). However, at present no current techniques can differentiate between damage to the acinar zone and the conductive zone or indeed accurately measure small airway (acinar zone) function. We believe the the MBNW has the capacity to do so.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 90

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Australia
  • Victoria
    • Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3004
      • Recruiting
      • Alfred Hospital
      • Contact: Bruce Thompson; Phone Number: ++61 3 9276 3476; Email: b.thompson@alfred.org.au

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Doctor diagnosed cystic fibrosis, asthma
• Lung transplant recipient

Exclusion Criteria:

• Smoke history of less than 10 pack years

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Bayside Health
• Collaborators: The Alfred
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Bruce Thompson, Head of Physiology Services, Alfred Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2004

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 11, 2005
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 12, 2005
• First Posted (Estimate): September 14, 2005

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): July 26, 2007
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 25, 2007
• Last Verified: September 1, 2005

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: small airways; Ventilation; MBNW; Lung Transplant recipients (Bronchiolitis Obliterans syndrome)
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Pathologic Processes; Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Lung Diseases; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Bronchial Diseases; Genetic Diseases, Inborn; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity; Pancreatic Diseases; Bronchitis; Fibrosis; Asthma; Cystic Fibrosis; Bronchiolitis; Bronchiolitis Obliterans
• Other Study ID Numbers: MBNW alfred