Regional ventilation measured by 3D phase-resolved functional lung MRI improves after dual bronchodilator treatment in patients with COPD

Motivation: Bronchodilators relieve the symptoms of respiratory conditions, such as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). 3D PREFUL MRI offers a non-invasive assessment of pulmonary ventilation. It is unclear whether 3D PREFUL parameters are sensitive to ventilation changes induced by bronchodilators. Goal(s): To determine whether 3D PREFUL parameters enable to measure response to dual bronchodilator therapy in COPD. Approach: 3D PREFUL MRI and spirometry at baseline and 2 weeks after initiation of therapy. Results: Ventilation assessed by 3D PREFUL parameters significantly improved by bronchodilator therapy. Relative changes of 3D PREFUL ventilation defect percentage parameters were similar to relative change differences of FEV1. Impact: 3D PREFUL MRI derived ventilation maps show significantly reduced ventilation defects in COPD patients after bronchodilator therapy. This positions 3D PREFUL MRI as a promising candidate for non-invasive monitoring of regional ventilation changes in future clinical studies.