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Phase-contrast MRI for Detection of Mild Systemic Hemodynamic Response after Segmental Allergen Challenge in Asthmatic Patients

Rationale and Objectives

Detection of a systemic hemodynamic response in patients suffering from allergic asthma after segmental endobronchial allergen challenge using phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Materials and Methods

Nine asthma patients and four healthy volunteers were examined using MRI (1.5T) before (0 hour), 6 hours, and 24 hours after segmental allergen challenge. Two-dimensional phase-contrast MRI measurements were performed in the aorta (AO) and in the pulmonary artery (PA). In addition, short-axis balanced steady state free precession cardiac cine MRI was performed. Maximum systolic flow, maximum flow acceleration, acceleration volume, acceleration time, distensibility, ejection fraction, stroke volume, end-systolic/diastolic volume, cardiac mass, heart rate (HR), and cardiac output (CO) were determined. Spirometry and bronchoalveolar lavage were also performed.

Results

In patients with asthma, maximal systolic flow and maximal flow acceleration increased 6 hours after provocation in the AO (112.3% and 118.9%, respectively) and PA (113.9% and 116.0%, respectively) compared to baseline (100%, P < .05). HR and CO increased significantly at 6 hours (115% and 118%, respectively) compared to baseline (100%, P = .003). In healthy subjects, almost all MRI-derived hemodynamic parameters did not significantly change at 6 hours and were significantly lower than baseline values at 24 hours ( P < .02). Twenty-four hours after allergen challenge, all MRI-derived flow parameters were significantly lower in the control group compared to the asthma group ( P < .05). HR, CO, and cardiac function parameters measured at 24 hours showed no significant difference comparing the two groups ( P > .05).

Conclusions

In asthmatic patients, MRI-derived hemodynamic parameters using phase-contrast MRI are slightly altered after segmental allergen provocation compared to normal controls indicating a mild systemic reaction to local allergen challenge.

Asthma is a serious health hazard affecting 300 million people worldwide with an annual death rate of 250,000 patients . Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways caused by an inappropriate immune response to allergen exposure . To date, the pathophysiological mechanism is still incompletely understood.

Segmental allergen challenge is a widely accepted and powerful tool to study mechanisms of airway inflammation and to test the efficacy of anti-inflammatory compounds in early clinical trials . One standard parameter to assess the severity of inflammation and the response to anti-inflammatory drugs is the concentration of eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Determination of the eosinophilic cell count requires repeated bronchoscopies for induction and read out of the inflammatory response that adds complexity and invasiveness especially to volunteers. Usually segmental allergen challenge involves one to four segments of the lung resulting in a local inflammatory response strictly limited to the challenged segments without any reported relevant systemic hemodynamic side effects . Although both provocation and response after segmental allergen challenge are local, there might be nevertheless a mild systemic hemodynamic response.

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Material and methods

Patient Population

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Segmental Allergen Challenge and BAL

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Spirometry

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MRI Protocol

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MR Image Evaluation/Data Analysis

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Statistical Analysis

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Results

Segmental Allergen Challenge

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Figure 1, Percentage of eosinophils (%) in the BAL volume determined in asthmatic patients and in healthy volunteers. Median values and the 25%/75% quartile of each group are shown. The allergens (SA1 and SA2 = standard dose in different lobes and LA = low dose) induced the eosinophils in the BAL fluid indicating an allergic reaction in the asthmatic patients ( P < .05). No reaction was seen in the controls. Saline served as control and showed no increase of eosinophils in the BAL in both groups. BAL, bronchoalveolar lavage; B, baseline; S, saline.

Table 1

Spirometric Parameters at Baseline, 6 hours, and 24 hours after Allergen Challenge

Group 0 hour 6 hours 24 hours_P_ Values Median [25; 75] % Median [25; 75] Baseline (%) Median [25; 75] Baseline (%) Absolute Kruskal–Wallis Relative Kruskal–Wallis Absolute 0 hour Versus 6 hours Relative 0 hour Versus 6 hours Absolute 0 hour Versus 24 hours Relative 0 hour Versus 24 hours Asthma FEV 1 (L) 3.9 [3.5; 4.0] 100 3.4 [2.9; 3.5] 83.1 [82.8; 86.6] 3.3 [3.2; 3.6] 89.7 [87.4; 90.9] ns ns ns ns ns ns FEV 1 predicted (%) 101.4 [92.8; 111] 100 83.7 [77.5; 96] 83.4 [82.8; 86.6] 93.3 [83.7; 98.4] 89.7 [87.3; 98.4] .06 ns — ns — ns FVC (L) 4.7 [4.5; 5.5] 100 4.55 [3.9; 4.6] 90.3 [84.6; 90.9] 4.5 [4.3; 5] 95 [93.8; 95.8] .18 ns — ns — ns FEV 1 /FVC 77.3 [74.6; 83.7] 100 76.2 [72.3; 77.9] 93.8 [92.9; 98.7] 72.3 [70.6; 79.5] 95 [93.1; 96.6] .52 ns — ns — ns Control FEV 1 (L) 4.6 [4.3; 4.9] 100 4.2 [4.0; 4.3] 91.5 [85.9; 97.4] 4.4 [4.2; 4.7] 96.5 [95.6; 96.9] .55 .11 — — — — FEV 1 predicted (%) 115.5 [108.0; 122.8] 100 98.5 [94.6; 105.1] 89.7 [80.9; 97.4] 110.4 [105.6; 113.3] 95 [92.3; 97.1] .25 .11 — — — — FVC (L) 6.1 [5.9; 6.4] 100 5.6 [5.2; 5.9] 88.1 [85.4; 91.9] 6 [5.8; 6.1] 97 [95.6; 97.7] .25 ns — ns — ns FEV 1 /FVC 76.5 [74.2; 77.3] 100 77.8 [75.8; 79.4] 103 [100.8; 105.2] 76.7 [73.7; 78] 100.3 [99.3; 100.8] .69 .3 — — — —

FEV 1 , forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; ns, not significant.

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Magnetic Resonance Imaging

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Table 2

Phase-contrast MRI

Group 0 hour 6 hours 24 hours_P_ Values Median [25; 75] % Median [25; 75] % of Baseline Median [25; 75] % of Baseline Kruskal–Wallis 0 hour Versus 6 hours 0 hour Versus 24 hours Abs. Rel. Abs. Rel. Abs. Rel. Asthma Heart rate (1/min) 68 [61; 80] 100 79 [78; 92] 115 [109.4; 121.0] 68 [61; 75] 98.3 [89.8; 103.9] .08 ns — ns — .20 MRI Max. systolic flow (mL/s) AO 453.5 [405.5; 504] 100 489 [454.5; 544.8] 112.3 [106.4; 120.2] 418.9 [392.5; 463.5] 92.7 [89.7; 96.8] .10 ns — ns — ns PA 422.7 [408; 482.4] 100 445.8 [425.2; 499] 113.9 [105.6; 118.0] 415.1 [385.7; 464.1] 98.3 [91.2; 101.1] .35 ns — ns — .67 Max. flow acceleration (mL/s 2 ) AO 4671.0 [3910; 4800] 100 5684.9 [4948.3; 5833.3] 118.9 [113.8; 126.9] 4064 [4001.1; 4193.6] 92.2 [87.3; 98.2] ns ns ns ns .20 ns PA 3588.3 [3175.4; 4055] 100 4217.3 [3749.2; 4503.8] 116.0 [106.1; 130.5] 3467.9 [3215.4; 4053.3] 99.2 [93.7; 101.8] .1478 ns — ns — .67 Acceleration volume (mL) AO 23.7 [22; 31.1] 100 27.1 [22.6; 29.2] 107.7 [96.9; 112.8] 24.5 [21.8; 30.1] 97.7 [91.8; 103.4] .87 .32 — — — — PA 33.1 [22; 34.6] 100 33.5 [26.1; 35.5] 102.6 [100; 120.2] 28.6 [22.9; 33] 102.3 [90.9; 105.2] .5 .28 — — — — Acceleration time (ms) AO 100 [100; 100] 100 90 [87.5; 100] 91.6 [90; 100] 100 [100; 110] 100 [100; 110] .23 ns — ns — .13 PA 120 [120; 130] 100 110 [100; 110] 88.9 [84.6; 100] 120 [110; 130] 100 [100; 107.7] .25 .07 — — — — Distensibility AO 25.5 [21.0; 36.4] 100 31.8 [16.3; 42.5] 112.9 [110.3; 117] 34.1 [22.5; 39.7] 113.6 [100.8; 142.0] .80 .06 — — — — PA 27 [18.0; 45.8] 100 40.6 [33.7; 51.1] 106.2 [93.1; 125.0] 25 [21.7; 44.4] 108.1 [94.4; 113.9] .93 .89 — — — — Cardiac output (mL/min) 6.6 [5.3; 7.1] 100 7.3 [7; 7.7] 118.1 [105.9; 123.4] 5.7 [5.2; 6.2] 90 [85.8; 99.2] ns ns .07 ns .09 ns Control Heart rate (1/min) 58 [55; 67] 100 78 [65; 89] 114 [99.3; 136.7] 60 [55; 65] 93.1 [83.6; 105.3] .31 .3 — — — — MRI Max. systolic flow (mL/s) AO 551.1 [538.1; 563.8] 100 559.4 [541.6; 592.8] 104.7 [100.9; 108.5] 488.4 [478.9; 495.5] 88.2 [87.7; 88.7] ns ns .56 .22 ns ns PA 496.9 [461.2; 540.8] 100 579.6 [525.4; 611.2] 111.3 [101.0; 121.3] 440.4 [426.2; 453.7] 88.8 [84.0; 92.4] .09.03 — .22 —.014 Max. flow acceleration (mL/s 2 ) AO 5510.5 [5380.8; 5637.5] 100 5797.1 [5675; 5876.3] 104.7 [103.5; 105.8] 4254.3 [3999; 4613] 77.2 [74.3; 81.7] ns ns .39 ns ns ns PA 3809.1 [3483.1; 4159.8] 100 4140 [3753.0; 4365.4] 99.6 [88.2; 117.3] 3048.2 [2895.6; 3305.1] 80.1 [79.5; 83.4] .12 ns — ns — ns Acceleration volume (mL) AO 31.5 [30.6; 32.2] 100 31.2 [29.9; 32.5] 100.7 [97.4; 103.4] 30.1 [29.8; 30.5] 97.8 [94.9; 99.7] .54 .48 — — — — PA 44.9 [40.9; 49] 100 47.8 [45.6; 48.9] 106.3 [100.1; 110.8] 38.2 [37.2; 39.6] 84.5 [80.7; 90.3] ns ns .56 .22 .083 ns Acceleration time (ms) AO 104.4 [104.2; 106.8] 100 125.2 [111.5; 134.1] 115.3 [100; 128.5] 119 [109.5; 123.8] 109.4 [98.1; 118.7] .09 .09 — — — — PA 140.5 [136.3; 145.1] 100 135.9 [128.6; 140.9] 92.7 [87.5; 100.4] 143.6 [136.9; 145.7] 98.8 [93.9; 103.5] .39 .34 — — — — Distensibility AO 21.1 [17.3; 29.0] 100 28.7 [18.2; 40.4] 113.1 [99.3; 139.9] 29.9 [23.3; 35.4] 118.4 [88.8; 159.5] .94 .77 — — — — PA 20.5 [17.3; 25.4] 100 23.6 [12.3; 32.8] 99.1 [42.2; 159] 19.7 [16.7; 22.4] 89.7 [82.3; 98.0] .84 .73 — — — — Cardiac output (L/min) 7.4 [6.5; 8.0] 100 7.4 [6.7; 8.6] 109.6 [95.4; 127.9] 6.1 [5.8; 6.2] 83.5 [75.3; 93.4] .12 ns — .22 — ns

AO, aorta; Abs., absolute; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; ns, not significant; PA, pulmonary artery; Rel., relative.

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Figure 2, Maximal systolic flow (Max. syst. Flow) in percentage of the baseline value measured in asthmatic patients ( dark column ) and control subjects ( white column ) in the aorta (a) and the common pulmonary artery (b) . Median values of each group and the 25/75 quartile are shown. AO, aorta; TP, pulmonary trunk.

Figure 3, Maximal flow acceleration (Max. Flow Acc.) in percentage of the baseline value measured in asthmatic patients ( dark column ) and control subjects ( white column ) in the aorta (a) and the common pulmonary artery (b) . Median values of each group and the 25/75 quartile are shown. AO, aorta; TP, pulmonary trunk.

Figure 4, Cardiac output (a) and heart rate (b) in percentage of the baseline value measured in asthmatic patients ( dark column ) and control subjects ( white column ). Median values of each group and the 25/75 quartile are shown.

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Figure 5, Median values and the 25/75 quartile in percentage of the baseline values of the two groups 6 hours after allergen challenge are shown. Asthmatic patients are plotted in dark and control subjects in white . Only the maximal flow acceleration in the aorta is significantly lower in control subjects. AO, aorta; CO, cardiac output; HR, heart rate; mFA, maximal flow acceleration; msF, maximal systolic flow; TP, pulmonary trunk.

Figure 6, Median values and the 25/75 quartile in percentage of the baseline values of the two groups 24 hours after allergen challenge are shown. Asthmatic patients are plotted in dark columns and control subjects in white columns . All MRI flow parameters were significantly lower in control subjects compared to asthmatic patients. The heart rate and the cardiac output showed no significant difference. AO, aorta; CO, cardiac output; HR, heart rate; mFA, maximal flow acceleration; msF, maximal systolic flow; TP, pulmonary trunk.

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Discussion

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