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Abstract #2567

Respiratory Impedance in a Mouse Model of Asthma Using Hyperpolarized 3He MR Imaging

Suryanarayanan Sivaram Kaushik1, John Nouls1, Erin Potts2, Zackary Cleveland1, W Michael Foster2, Bastiaan Driehuys1

1Center for In-Vivo Microscopy, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States; 2Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States


The broncho-constriction and inflammation associated with asthma contributes to increased airway impedance. This impedance is typically measured using global respiratory mechanics techniques such as FlexiVent. However, the time course of broncho-constriction can also be directly visualized using hyperpolarized (HP) 3He MRI. This imaging-based technique provides a time-dependent method for quantifying central airway impedance and may be useful to assess the regional contributions to globally measured impedance. Here, we discuss the method we used in obtaining the upper airway impedance during a Methacholine (Mch) challenge, in a mouse model of asthma.