Electrical Impedance Imaging of Patients With Cystic Fibrosis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this feasibility study is to evaluate the ability of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) for providing regional and quantitative information about the extent and nature of bronchial obstruction in patients with cystic fibrosis. It is not being conducted to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any kind of disease. In electrical impedance tomography low amplitude, low frequency current is applied on electrodes, and the resulting voltage is measured and used to computed the electrical properties of the interior of the chest as they change in time. The computed properties are used to form an image, which can then be used for monitoring and diagnosis.

Detailed Description
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The goal of this study is to evaluate the ability of Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) hardware and software in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) for providing regional and quantitative information for identifying regions of obstruction and consolidation, and determine whether these measures will correlate with improvements seen after hospitalized treatment for a pulmonary exacerbation (PE). In particular, EIT will be used to identify regions of obstruction (air trapping) and consolidation comprised of atelectasis and airway occlusion (consequences of mucus plugging) in CF patients, and to determine whether EIT can demonstrate the beneficial effects of antibiotic treatment for CF patients with an acute PE by correlating changes in quantitative EIT measures with clinical measures known to improve following therapy, with patients serving as their own controls. Regional changes in air trapping and consolidation from pre to post treatment as indicated by the EIT images will be calculated, with subjects serving as their own control.

Official Title
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Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT): A Non-radiating Functional Imaging for Cystic Fibrosis

Conditions
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Cystic Fibrosis

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: CT scan


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Between the ages of 2 and 21 years (Groups 1 and 2) Between the ages of 8 and 21 years (Group 3) Healthy lungs (Group 1) Clinical diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (Groups 2 and 3) Clinically indicated for a pulmonary CT scan or will receive one as part of their routine care (Group 2) Receiving IV antibiotics for a clinically diagnosed pulmonary exacerbation (Group 3) Exclusion Criteria: Under age 24 months or over age 21. No informed consent Known congenital heart disease, arrythmia, or history of heart failure, admission to the intensive care unit, wearing a pacemaker or other surgical implant. Pregnant or lactating

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 2 Years
Maximum Age: 21 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Healthy controls<br>Subjects between the ages of 2 and 21 with healthy lungs. Electrical impedance tomography data will be collected during tidal breathing, during 5 to 10 seconds of breath holding, and during FEV1 and FEF 25-75 spirometry maneuvers for subjects over age 8. | |
| CF patients scheduled for a CT scan<br>Subjects with CF between the ages of 2 and 21 who are either clinically indicated for a CT scan of the lungs or are scheduled for a pulmonary CT scan as part of their routine care. Electrical impedance tomography data data will be collected during tidal breathing, during 5 to 10 seconds of breath holding, during forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced expiratory flow (FEF) 25-75 spirometry maneuvers for subjects over age 8, and immediately before or after pulmonary CT scanning. | Device: CT scan<br>* Applied only when part of the patient's standard care<br>|
| CF patients with pulmonary exacerbation<br>Subjects with CF between the ages of 8 and 21 who are being started on intravenous (IV) antibiotics for a clinically diagnosed pulmonary exacerbation. Electrical impedance tomography data data will be collected during tidal breathing, during 5 to 10 seconds of breath holding, during FEV1 and FEF 25-75 spirometry maneuvers upon admission for a pulmonary exacerbation and following 7 to 14 days hospitalized treatment including IV antibiotics. Further data will be collected at the same time with CT scanning if the scan is part of the patient's standard of care. | Device: CT scan<br>* Applied only when part of the patient's standard care<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sensitivity and specificity for identifying air trapping and consolidation | The sensitivity and specificity of EIT for identifying regions of air trapping and consolidation will be assessed using the CT scan as the gold standard | 2 years | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Accuracy of the EIT computed spirometry values | The accuracy of the spirometry measures computed from EIT images will be assessed by comparing to those from the pulmonary function tests | 2 years | 
| Correlation of EIT derived measures to patient improvement following IV antibiotics | Changes in quantitative EIT measures will be correlated with clinical measures known to improve following therapy, patients serving as their own controls. | 2 years | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Cystic fibrosis, Electrical Impedance Tomography