Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: CT Features of Severe Exacerbation

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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To describe Computed Tomography (CT) features associated with severe exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Detailed Description
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The natural course of COPD is associated with episodes of exacerbation which are clinically defined as acute events characterized by a worsening of the patient's respiratory symptoms that is beyond normal day-to-day variations and which leads to a change in medication. Moreover, these episodes can be classified into mild, moderate, or severe exacerbations, following patient's need for medical environment. While the cause of about one-third of severe exacerbation episodes cannot be identified, two-thirds are associated with certain conditions such as respiratory tract infections (viral or bacterial), air pollution, as well as pulmonary embolism (PE), pulmonary edema, cardiac arrhythmia, pneumothorax, or pleural effusion. As COPD exacerbations are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, as well as with increased healthcare costs, their prevention and treatment are two major objectives in COPD management with subsequent requirement for appropriate assessment tools. As imaging tool, chest radiography is limited to the detection of pneumonia and pleural abnormalities, and only leads to change in managements in a marginal proportion of patients. However, while Computed Tomography (CT) scans allows detecting more chest abnormalities, the knowledge of CT features at the time of exacerbation is a pre-requisite for determining possible role of CT in routine work-up of exacerbation. Nevertheless these features remain widely unknown, previous studies having focused on the prevalence of PE. The aim of our study was therefore to describe these features by comparing CT scans performed at severe exacerbation with control scans.

Official Title
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: CT Features of Severe Exacerbation

Conditions
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COPD Exacerbation

Intervention / Treatment
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* Radiation: Chest CT scans


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Severe exacerbation episode of COPD, requiring hospital admission Exclusion Criteria: No exclusion criteria

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| COPD Exacerbation<br>COPD patients aged 18 years or more, were included at the time of an exacerbation episode leading to admission in our hospital, which corresponds to a severe episode. There were no exclusion criteria. Patients underwent chest CT scans and PFT. After a minimum of two weeks free of any acute symptom after discharge, CT scans and PFT were redone. | Radiation: Chest CT scans<br>* CT examinations were performed with a commercially available 64-detector row scanner. Images were acquired in supine position after full inspiration and full expiration, using the following parameters: slice thickness, 0.6 mm; pitch, 1.4; rotation time, 330 msec; tube voltage, 120 kiloVolts; and tube current-time product, 100 milliAmperes, with automatic exposure control (CareDose 4D, Siemens Healthcare) switched on. From raw data, 1-mm-thick section images were reconstructed at 0.7-mm intervals by using a high spatial algorithm and a soft-tissue algorithm. The inspiratory CT scan at the time of exacerbation was performed with intravenous iodinated contrast material, whereas the control scan was unenhanced.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chest CT scan features at exacerbation | Grading the severity of the following 15 features: bronchiectasis, mucous plugging, bronchial wall thickening, pulmonary consolidation, ground glass opacity, cysts or bullae, air trapping, centrilobular micronodules, platelike atelectasis, emphysema, pulmonary embolism, pleural effusion, mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy, reticular pattern or honeycombing, and pulmonary mass or nodule. | 4 hours | 
| Chest CT scan features at control | Grading the severity of the following 15 features: bronchiectasis, mucous plugging, bronchial wall thickening, pulmonary consolidation, ground glass opacity, cysts or bullae, air trapping, centrilobular micronodules, platelike atelectasis, emphysema, pulmonary embolism, pleural effusion, mediastinal or hilar lymphadenopathy, reticular pattern or honeycombing, and pulmonary mass or nodule. | Minimum two weeks after exacerbation | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PFT at control | Measurements of the forced vital capacity (FVC), the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the functional residual capacity (FRC), the total lung capacity (TLC) and the residual volume (RV). | Minimum two weeks after exacerbation | 
| PFT at exacerbation | Measurements of the forced vital capacity (FVC), the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), the functional residual capacity (FRC), the total lung capacity (TLC) and the residual volume (RV). | 4 hours | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Chest Computed Tomography