19F-MRI of pulmonary ventilation: Assessment of response to treatment in asthma and COPD

19F-MRI is an emerging technique which holds promise for direct, quantitative imaging of pulmonary ventilation without recourse to ionising radiation or use of specialist hyperpolarised gases. We aimed to assess the sensitivity of 19F-MRI to treatment response by imaging inhaled perfluoropropane in patients with asthma and patients with COPD before and after administration of a bronchodilator, at two research sites. Significant increases in percent ventilated lung volume were measured from the 19F-MR images following bronchodilator administration in both patient groups, and a positive correlation with spirometry was measured, demonstrating good technique sensitivity and clinical validity.