PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - J.D. Newell, Jr
AU  - J.C. Hogg
AU  - G.L. Snider
TI  - Report of a workshop: quantitative computed tomography scanning in longitudinal studies of emphysema
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.04.00026504
DP  - 2004 May 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 769--775
VI  - 23
IP  - 5
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/23/5/769.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/23/5/769.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2004 May 01; 23
AB  - It has been reported that quantitative computed tomography (CT) scanning of the lungs showed decreased progression of emphysema in a randomised clinical trial in patients with severe α1‐antitrypsin (α1‐AT) deficiency receiving monthly intravenous augmentation therapy with human α1‐AT. Comparable results were not obtained using rate of decline of forced expiratory volume in one second. Accordingly, the Alpha‐1 Foundation convened a workshop to explore the feasibility of using quantitative CT data as a primary outcome variable in trials of drugs for treating α1‐AT deficiency. This report reviews the following: the principles for the use of modern CT scanners for quantifying emphysema; the methods and data on validation by comparison with measurements of severity of emphysema in inflation-fixed specimens of lungs; and the possibility of decreasing radiation dosage from CT to make it safe and ethically possible to use CT in longitudinal studies. The workshop concluded that it is feasible, safe and ethically possible to use computed tomography in longitudinal studies of emphysema. It recommended that the primary end-point should be a significant shift in the 15th percentile of lung density. This workshop was funded by the following organisations: AlphaNet, American Red Cross, Aventis Behring LLC, Bayer Corporation, Grifols, Ono Pharmaceuticals USA and Roche Bioscience.