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Mar. 10, 2023 — One in 10 adults suffer from the debilitating effects of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Research around a new breathing device developed by pulmonologists offers promise for improving ...

Dec. 21, 2022 — Researchers have genetically profiled nearly 200,000 cells from lungs, mapping their precise locations in tissue to discover an unexpected new immune niche in our ...

Dec. 5, 2022 — A six-month study oncludes that the use of portable home air purifiers can improve some markers of cardiovascular health in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or ...

Nov. 23, 2022 — Sometimes healthcare professionals treat patients with opioids such as morphine to relieve symptoms, but there has been a lack of evidence as to whether this helps with severe chronic breathlessness. ...

Nov. 15, 2022 — Airway inflammation and emphysema are more common in marijuana smokers than cigarette smokers, according to a new study. Researchers said the difference may be due to the way that marijuana is smoked ...

Sep. 5, 2022 — Researchers have found that dual bronchodilators -- long-lasting inhalers that relax the airways and make it easier to breathe -- do little to help people who do not have chronic obstructive ...

Aug. 2, 2022 — Structural differences in lung airways between men and woman may be the cause of differences in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence and outcomes between the sexes. According to a ...

July 25, 2022 — Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an aging-associated disease caused by progressive scarring of the lungs, leading to respiratory failure and death. Therapies to treat IPF are limited, making ...

June 21, 2022 — Study into the consequences of childhood infection finds Australian children who had bronchitis at least once before the age of seven were more likely to have lung problems in later ...

May 9, 2022 — New research shows that hypoxia can activate the same group of immune cells that cause inflammation during asthma ...

May 3, 2022 — CT-detected emphysema is linked to a higher risk of lung cancer, a risk that increases with emphysema severity, according to a new ...

May 3, 2022 — Initial tests of a new 'crystal ball' for COPD revealed that it is better at predicting risk for both African-Americans and heavy smokers than existing ...

Apr. 1, 2022 — A new type of cell that resides deep within human lungs and may play a key role in human lung diseases has been ...

Mar. 30, 2022 — Scientists show how cells packed with SARS-CoV-2 detach from the upper airway and spread deep into lungs where severe COVID can take root. They also discovered how an asthmatic reaction to allergens ...

Mar. 28, 2022 — A significant amount of genetic risk for asthma is likely mediated through altered gene expression within the airway epithelium. That is the conclusion of a new study to identify genetic variants ...

Mar. 23, 2022 — The lower airways of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have unique biochemical features that correlate with the complex communities of lung bacteria typical of this disease, according to a ...

Mar. 23, 2022 — Scientists have developed a drug to treat the uncontrolled secretion of mucins in the airways, which causes potentially life-threatening symptoms in millions of Americans with lung ...

Mar. 15, 2022 — Disease of the small airways in the lungs is a potential long-lasting effect of COVID-19, according to a new study. The study found that small airways disease occurred independently of initial ...

Feb. 23, 2022 — Obesity has been linked to a wide array of health problems. A new study suggests that abdominal obesity as measured by body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, may result in a greater risk of ...

Jan. 27, 2022 — A team of researchers has identified previously unrecognized changes in gene expression and cellular interactions in distinct cell populations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ...

Emphysema Percent Linked To Pulmonary Microvascular Blood Volume

Lower pulmonary microvascular blood volume (PMBV) is associated with greater percent emphysema in those with a diffuse emphysema subtype, according to study findings published in Thorax.

Recent research has identified 6 emphysema subtypes through quantitative computed tomography (CT); of those, the diffuse subtype is the most common in the general population and among individuals with smoking-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Investigators used contrast-enhanced dual-energy CT (DECT) to measure PMBV in patients with emphysema, in order to determine the association between PMBV and percent emphysema as well as the association between PMBV and emphysema subtype.

The investigators recruited participants without renal impairment from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a prospective community-based cohort study that enrolled individuals age 45 to 84 years from 6 US communities between 2000 to 2002. Individuals weighing over 300 pounds and those with cancer or cardiovascular disease were among those excluded from the current study.

Participants with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of greater than 60mL/min/1.73m2 attending the sixth MESA examination in 2017/2018 were invited to undergo contrast-enhanced DECT of the lungs for the current study. The contrast-enhanced DECT was used to assess patients' novel CT emphysema subtypes and percent emphysema. PMBV was defined as blood volume in the peripheral 2 cm of the lung. Material decomposition was used to calculate pulmonary blood volume.

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Lower pulmonary microvascular blood volume was associated with greater percent emphysema.

The analysis included 495 participants (mean age, 71 years; 44% women; 35% White, 31% Black, 15% Hispanic, 18% Asian [all self-reported]). Of those, 53% had never smoked, and 72% did not have airflow limitation on spirometry.

Mean (SD) PMBV was 352 (120) mL and mean percent emphysema was 4.95% (4.75%). The investigators found lower PMBV was associated with greater percent emphysema (-0.90% per 100 mL PMBV; 95% CI, -1.29 to -0.51) in fully adjusted models. The association was present among those with no airflow limitation or smoking history, although participants with airflow obstruction and a smoking history 10-pack-years or more had a greater association. This association was specific to the diffuse CT emphysema subtype (-1.48% per 100 mL PMBV; 95% CI, -2.31 to -0.55). No association was found between PMBV and percent emphysema in unadjusted analyses.

Study limitations include the lack of a gold standard for assessing PMBV and potential methodological confounders in site-specific protocol differences.

"Lower pulmonary microvascular blood volume was associated with greater percent emphysema," the investigators concluded, adding, "The association was of greater magnitude among those with airflow limitation and a heavy smoking history but was also significant among participants with no airflow limitation or smoking history and was specific to the diffuse CT emphysema subtype."

Disclosure: Some study authors declared affiliations with biotech, pharmaceutical, and/or device companies. Please see the original reference for a full list of authors' disclosures.

What People Living With COPD Or Emphysema Need To Know About Available Treatments

StatePoint

More than 11 million people in the United States are living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including more than 3 million people with emphysema, a type of COPD. This chronic lung disease limits air flow and causes breathing-related symptoms. While there is no cure, an innovative treatment option is helping some patients with severe COPD or emphysema breathe easier.

Endobronchial Valve Therapy (EBV) is a minimally invasive treatment option that aims to improve lung function, activity level and your quality of life.

"I noticed the first day after receiving EBV that I was able to take a very deep breath. Before my treatment, my breathing was very shallow," says Karrie E., who is now able to walk longer distances before taking rests, as well as go to the grocery store to do her own shopping.

Carolyn P., who also received EBV therapy after living with COPD for years agrees, "I had the valves put in and it changed the quality of my life. I can walk without feeling like my chest is going to burst." Carolyn is now a regular walker at the malls in her hometown.

So, what are EBVs? According to the American Lung Association, which has partnered with Zephyr by Pulmonx to create awareness for managing advanced COPD with EBV, these one-way valves reduce lung hyperinflation by allowing trapped air to escape. As a result, lung function may improve when healthier areas of the lung provide the necessary oxygen exchange. They may help with feeling less short of breath and being more active. This safe, effective treatment option for eligible patients is backed by research-based evidence, and currently, there are two FDA-approved types of valves.

If you have been diagnosed with advanced COPD or emphysema and do not smoke or are willing to quit, EBV treatment might be the right option for you. This relatively quick, non-surgical procedure takes place in a hospital, and has a short recovery time, generally requiring about a three-day hospital stay.

Those who have found success with the procedure — less shortness of breath and a greater quality of life — encourage others not to delay treatment: "If it's right for you, don't wait to have it done," says Bryan C.

The American Lung Association encourages you to speak with your healthcare provider about this treatment option. You can learn more and take an online questionnaire to determine if you qualify for this procedure by visiting Lung.Org/ebv.

If you are one of the millions of Americans living with COPD, you can breathe easier knowing that advances in treatments are helping people with your condition live a better quality of life.

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