View clinical trials related to Pulmonary Emphysema.
Filter by:The combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema syndrome (CPFE) individualized by our group in 2005 is characterized by an often severe dyspnea, almost exclusive male predominance, and often major, profound impairment of gas exchange contrasting with preserved lung volumes and absence of airflow obstruction, and a high risk of pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension responsible for increased mortality. Almost all patients are smokers or ex-smokers. There are some arguments in favor of genetic abnormalities in this syndrome of unknown etiology (other than smoking) including short telomeres and mutations in the telomerase complex genes. There are also emphysematous lesions, in patients with familial pulmonary fibrosis, with mutations in the SFTPC gene (surfactant protein C), and reported cases of CPFE syndrome with SFTPC mutation. No large genetic studies have been conducted to date in the CPFE syndrome. Our main hypothesis is that the proportion of subjects with short telomeres is higher among patients with CPFE syndrome than in subjects of similar age with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis but without emphysema. It has previously been shown that mutations in the telomerase TERT or TERC genes are mostly found in people whose telomeres are abnormally short. The investigators propose to use that test to identify patients most likely carrying a mutation, and to seek, among them, the mutations in the TERT or TERC telomerase genes. The objective of the study is to compare the proportion of patients with short telomeres in the group of patients with CPFE syndrome to that of other patients (with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis without emphysema, or with emphysema without fibrosis).
To assess response to bronchodilation with tiotropium plus salbutamol in patients with severe emphysema and analyze relationships between bronchoreversibility response and semiquantitative computed-tomography based emphysema severity measures.
Aim: To evaluate feasibility, safety and efficacy of relatively simple approach of bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (LVR) technology, independent of collateral ventilation. Description: Patients with severe upper lobes heterogeneous emphysema, undergo unilateral bronchoscopic installation of saline thermal energy 50-55 ºC intending to induce an inflammatory airway and parenchymal injury and consequently fibrotic response resulting in LVR;
This clinical trial evaluates the impact of catheter-based measurement of interloabr collateral ventilation prior to endoscopic lung volume reduction in patients with hetereogeneous emphysema and complete interlobar fissures in high resolution computed tomography.
Patients with large bullae (large empty air sacs in the lung) may benefit from bullectomy (surgery to resect these bullae), however this is a major surgery with significant potential morbidity and long hospital stays. Many patients are not well enough to have this surgery, or may not wish to have it. A less invasive means of attempting to shrink the size of the bullae is to directly inject the patients' own blood into the bullae (we believe that this can lead to an inflammatory reaction leading to gradual scarring and volume loss). This can be performed bronchoscopically in a 20-30 minute procedure using conscious sedation (avoiding general anaesthesia). The aim of this study is to assess the effects on lung function, quality of life measures, functional measures and CT measured lung volumes of bronchoscopic intrabullous blood instillation in patients with bullous emphysema.
The purpose of this study is to characterize the safety and efficacy of the AeriSeal System in patients with advanced upper lobe predominant emphysema and significant collateral ventilation as determined by the Chartis System.
Spontaneous breathing supported by nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) is thought to have some advantages compared with mechanical ventilation in premature infants. In addition, early surfactant administration has been shown to be superior to delayed use. The aim of this pilot study was to describe the feasibility of TAKE CARE (early administration of surfactant in spontaneous breathing) procedure and compare its short-term and long-term results with InSurE procedure.
Patients with bilateral heterogeneous pulmonary emphysema benefit to differing degrees from unilateral ELVR with complete lobe closure in comparison with incomplete bilateral treatment.
The aim of this study is to describe the natural history of patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin associated emphysema and to figure out associated prognostic factors.
The Comprehensive Lung Center (CLC) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC Health System) provides patients with any type of breathing or lung disorder a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. The Emphysema/COPD Research Center (ECRC) is a specialty clinic, within this center, that attempts to advance the understanding of emphysema and to evaluate new therapies for patients with emphysema. The Emphysema Research Registry will enable pulmonary research physicians to: 1) gather information and create a research registry of people who have been diagnosed with emphysema; 2) utilize this research registry with the purpose of conducting research that attempts to advance the understanding of emphysema and to evaluate new therapies; and, 3) use the research registry to identify potential candidates for future research programs. These aims will be achieved by the collection of DNA (genetic material)for analysis and storage in addition to pulmonary function tests and other medical information.