Abstract
Objective(s): Responses to AeriSeal® Emphysematous Lung Sealant System (ELS) therapy in patients with advanced upper lobe predominant heterogeneous (ULP) emphysema are summarized out to 6 months of follow-up.
Methods: 14 patients with ULP emphysema received ELS treatment in a multi-center study conducted at 8 sites across Europe and Israel. Ten (10) of these patients underwent a second treatment session after 12 weeks in the contralateral upper lobe to complete bilateral therapy. Pulmonary function, functional capacity, and quality of life assessments were performed at 3 and 6 months following treatment.
Results: Upper lobe ELS therapy in this cohort (8 male, age 63±6 yrs) was associated with improvements in pulmonary function, functional capacity, and quality of life. Three (3) and 6 month improvements in FEV1 (+17.4±33.1%; 20.3±33.3%), FVC (11.3±24.7%; 12.3±24.2%), RV/TLC ratio (-7.5±11.1%; -6.2±7.4%), MRCD (-0.3±0.83U; -0.4±0.77U), 6MWT (+22.4±105.9m; +31.6±80.6m), and SGRQ (-9.5±11.3U; -6.3±9.6U) were reported. Clinically significant improvements in spirometry were observed in 9 of 14 patients at 6 month follow-up. Physiological responses were best in those patients (n=10) who received bilateral upper lobe split dose therapy (ΔFEV1 = +24.8±36.8%; ΔFVC = +17.6±25.6%).
Conclusions: ELS therapy in patients with advanced ULP emphysema improves lung function, functional capacity and quality of life out to at least 6 months. Improvements in spirometry following bilateral upper lobe therapy can be equivalent to those observed following lung volume reduction surgery.
- © 2011 ERS