Hyperpolarized Xenon MRI in Adults With Pulmonary Hypertension in Interstitial Lung Disease and Systemic Sclerosis

September 10, 2026 updated by: Bastiaan Driehuys

Harmonized Hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI for Noninvasive Assessment of Pulmonary Hypertension in Interstitial Lung Disease and Systemic Sclerosis (ILD-PH/SSc)

This study aims to evaluate a noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging technique using hyperpolarized xenon gas to measure lung function in adults with interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension, and systemic sclerosis. Researchers will assess whether MRI measurements correlate with clinical measures of lung and vascular function.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

51

Phase

  • Phase 2

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥18 years at enrollment.
  • Participant is willing and able to provide written informed consent.
  • Able (in the Investigator's opinion) and willing to comply with all study requirements.
  • Participant has or is suspected to have one of the following pulmonary conditions:
  • Healthy volunteers: aged 18-30 years; no known cardiopulmonary disease; has not smoked tobacco products in the previous 5 years; smoking history, if any, is less than or equal to 5 pack-years; no history of using other inhaled products more than 1 time per week for > 1 year OR
  • ILD-PH: ≥18 years; ILD diagnosis; precapillary PH by RHC (mPAP >20 mmHg, PVR >2 WU, PCWP ≤15 mmHg) within the specified window OR
  • SSc: systemic sclerosis diagnosis with or without PH

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any condition which, in the opinion of the Investigator, would make it unsafe or unsuitable for the participants to undergo MRI (for example: presence of an implanted or external MRI unsafe device that cannot be removed, body weight exceeding table limitations, inability to lie flat, or severe claustrophobia).
  • Inability to hold breath for 10-15 seconds for required imaging or for completion of DLCO measurements.
  • Active pulmonary infection or lung cancer.
  • Recent respiratory infection or pulmonary disease exacerbation within 4 weeks of screening.
  • Participants who are known to be pregnant or lactating.
  • Concurrent enrollment and participation in a study which, in the opinion of the Investigator, would interfere with the study compliance, or outcome assessments or would prohibit the collection of the required data points.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Hyperpolarized Xenon MRI
Participants undergo hyperpolarized Xenon MRI imaging and clinical assessments.
Drug: Hyperpolarized 129 Xenon Gas
Hyperpolarized xenon gas is inhaled during MRI to evaluate lung ventilation and gas exchange.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Diagnostic Accuracy for Detection of Pulmonary Hypertension (sensitivity)
Time Frame: Single study visit, Day 1
Sensitivity of pre-specified 129Xe MRI biomarkers for identifying pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension in participants with systemic sclerosis, using right-heart catheterization as the reference standard.
Single study visit, Day 1
Diagnostic Accuracy for Detection of Pulmonary Hypertension (specificity)
Time Frame: Single study visit, Day 1
Specificity of pre-specified 129Xe MRI biomarkers for identifying pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension in participants with systemic sclerosis, using right-heart catheterization as the reference standard.
Single study visit, Day 1

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
RBC Oscillation Imaging Amplitude Defect Percentage
Time Frame: Single study visit, Day 1
Percentage of lung volume exhibiting abnormal regional RBC oscillation amplitude as measured by hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI.
Single study visit, Day 1
Whole-Lung RBC Chemical Shift
Time Frame: Single study visit, Day 1
Mean frequency difference between the center of the RBC resonance and the alveolar gas resonance.
Single study visit, Day 1

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Bastiaan Driehuys

Collaborators

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Joseph Mammarappallil, Duke University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

November 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 20, 2030

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 20, 2030

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 10, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 10, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 15, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 10, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Pro00120593
  • R01HL126771 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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