Differences in hyperpolarized 3He ventilation imaging after 4 years in adults with cystic fibrosis

Purpose To evaluate cystic fibrosis (CF) subjects over 4 years using 3He magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), pulmonary function tests, and track hospitalization and physician visits. Materials and Methods Five CF adults provided written informed consent to an approved protocol and underwent MRI, spirometry, and plethysmography at baseline, 7 days, and 4 ± 1 years later. 3He MRI ventilation defect percent (VDP) was generated for all subjects and timepoints. Results After 4 years, mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second / forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) was lower (P = 0.01) in all subjects and there were no other pulmonary function test changes. Two CF adults showed significantly elevated (worse) 3He VDP at baseline and after 4 years they had significantly greater (worsened) VDP (P = 0.02), without a significant FEV1 decline (P = 0.06) but with a greater number of exacerbations (P