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Bronchial Thermoplasty for Severe Asthma With Dynamic Hyperinflation

Evaluation of the Efficiency of Bronchial Thermoplasty on Dynamic Hyperinflation in Uncontrolled Severe Asthma

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02618551
Acronym
HEAT-SA
Enrollment
14
Registered
2015-12-01
Start date
2015-11-01
Completion date
2021-05-06
Last updated
2026-05-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Asthma, Hyperinflation

Keywords

Thermoplasty, Severe asthma, Dynamic hyperinflation

Brief summary

Bronchial thermoplasty is a treatment for severe asthma that consist in decreasing the thickness of bronchial muscle by heat using a catheter inserted into the bronchi under direct vision with the help of an endoscope This treatment has shown efficacy on symptoms, quality of life and the number of exacerbations related to severe asthma. This clinical study evaluates the efficiency of this treatment on the dynamic hyperinflation phenomenon (worsening of bronchial obstruction during exercise in patients with asthma contributing to worsening shortness of breath).

Detailed description

Bronchial thermoplasty is a recently validated bronchoscopic technique for the management of severe asthma that treats smooth muscle by radiofrequency to reduce its thickness. This procedure leads to improved asthma control and quality of life, but also to decreased exacerbations frequency and number of emergencies hospitalizations. This treatment requires 3 procedures every 3 to 4 weeks. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying its effectiveness need to be better understood for an improved selection of best candidates. In particular, there is a discrepancy between the improvement observed in symptoms (ACQ), quality of life (AQLQ) and the lack of improvement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1). Investigator assume that this paradox is due to an efficiency appearing at effort, targeting dynamic hyperinflation phenomenon. The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of bronchial thermoplasty on dynamic hyperinflation in severe asthma. The secondary objectives are to assess the effectiveness of bronchial thermoplasty (ACQ, AQLQ) in a selected population of patients with dynamic hyperinflation and to describe bronchial wall structural changes by probe-based confocal LASER endomicroscopy (pCLE).

Interventions

PROCEDUREBronchial thermoplasty for treatment of severe asthma

Three sessions of bronchial thermoplasty are needed to treat patients. There will be 3 to 4 weeks between each procedure. Bronchial thermoplasty procedure is performed under general anesthesia. The medical device used in this research to achieve the thermoplasty is the Alair system (class IIb medical device ; Boston scientific) A confocal endomicroscopy will be conducted at the first and final session of thermoplasty. This examination involves analyzing and recording the structure of bronchi microscopy through a small catheter placed on the bronchus. Photographs of the bronchi will be realized.

Sponsors

University Hospital, Toulouse
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Severe asthma, uncontrolled despite optimal treatment according to GINA (global initiative for asthma) recommendations * At least 2 exacerbations treated by systemic steroids in the last year * FEV1 between 40 and 80% of predicted values and dynamic hyperinflation (defined as a decrease in inspiratory capacity by more than 500 ml during exercise)

Exclusion criteria

* Current asthma exacerbation or respiratory infection * History of exacerbation after bronchoscopy * FEV1 \< 40% of predicted values * Oxygen saturation \< 90% * Contra-indications to ALAIR catheter system : pacemaker or other electronic implanted device * Allergy to Remifentanyl or Propofol * pregnancy; breastfeeding

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Evolution of dynamic hyperinflation3 monthsA lung plethysmography will be used to patients to see evolution of dynamic hyperinflation after bronchial thermoplasty, defined as a decrease in inspiratory capacity by more than 500 ml during exercise. The plethysmography will be made before the first procedure and three months after the third procedure.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Structural modification of the bronchial wall3 monthsDescription of structural modification of the bronchial wall by probe-based confocal LASER endomicroscopy (pCLE) induced by bronchial thermoplasty
Efficiency of bronchial thermoplasty on asthma3 monthsEfficiency of bronchial thermoplasty on asthma control (ACQ) and quality of life (AQLQ) in a selected population of patients with severe asthma with dynamic hyperinflation.
Assess side effects3 monthsListing of thermoplasty complications (bronchitis, bronchospasm, exacerbation of asthma, hemoptysis, bronchiectasis) by medical staff

Countries

France

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAlain DIDIER, MD

Toulouse Rangueil Larrey University Hospital

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 30, 2026