Emphysema is a chronic, progressive and irreversible disease of the lungs that is most likely to develop in someone who smokes. There is a clinical research study looking at new treatment options that may help people with emphysema breath easier.
Geoff McLennan, MD, PhD, director of interventional pulmonology at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, talks about the study:
How does emphysema affect the lungs?
The effects of smoking destroy the air tubes in the lungs, limiting the air can get out of the lung, so the lung progressively expands and occupies the chest space so people can't breathe all the way in or all the way out. They're very short of breath and have difficulty breathing.
What is the current treatment for emphysema?
The current treatment, designed to control symptoms, is inhalers. There are some tablets available and of course, many people are on oxygen therapy to keep their blood oxygen level up. Those measures are supportive and help relieve some of the terrible symptoms of this disease.
What is the name of the study looking at treatment options?
It is called the EASE Study (Exhale Airway Stents for Emphysema) and is designed as a multi-center study to explore a treatment that may offer a new, minimally invasive option to open up new air tubes for those with advanced widespread emphysema.
What is the purpose of the EASE Trial?
Create new air tubes—done with a bronchoscope so it's not major surgery—that allows the lung to decompress and presumably function more normally.
Who qualifies to take part in the study?
People who have severe or moderately severe emphysema or who already have the disease and have significant symptoms. This is for people with established disease, not for early subjects.
What will participants do as part of the EASE trial?
They'll be asked to participate in this well-conducted and well-controlled study that will include a number of tests, including CT scans. If they qualify, they will undergo a bronchoscopic procedure to create these new air tubes. This is a well-conducted study with a lot of detail. Funding is provided so the patients don't have to pay anything.
What are the possible benefits of this study for participants?
The benefits are unclear, which is why we do these studies. We hope that by creating these new air tubes, people will feel better and will be less breathless with the disease. The hope of the study is that it creates a better quality of life and people are less breathless when they do things.
How long will the study run?
The study will run until it's completed, which may be another year or so of subject recruitment and treatment. Then we will follow the people for a further period of time to look at their potential benefits.
If someone was interested in learning more, whom should they contact?
Contact Kim Springer, research coordinator, at 800-777-8442. |
