Breathing in a special gas could help doctors see lung damage without needles
NCT ID NCT06104228
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether inhaling a special form of xenon gas during an MRI can help doctors see and measure blood vessel changes in the lungs of people with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The goal is to find a non-invasive way to diagnose different types of PAH and track how the disease changes over time or responds to treatment. Twenty adults with PAH will be scanned at the start and after 12 months, along with standard tests like blood work and a six-minute walk.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- 129Xe hyperpolarized gas
- What this could lead to
- If successful, 129Xe MRI could become a non-invasive way to diagnose PAH subtypes and track disease progression or treatment response without repeated invasive tests.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small early-phase study (20 participants) focused on imaging biomarkers, not a treatment. It may not prove that the MRI method is accurate enough for routine clinical use.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Duke University Medical Center
RECRUITINGDurham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
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