Novel Pulmonary Imaging of Lung Structure and Function in E-cigarette Smokers

NCT ID: NCT04616313

Last Updated: 2025-08-14

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

150 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-01-17

Study Completion Date

2027-12-31

Brief Summary

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This is a longitudinal study of the long-term health impact of e-cigarette smoking on the lungs. Participants will be followed over a period of 5 years, and impacts of e-cigarette smoking on the lungs will be measured with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using hyperpolarized xenon-129 gas, pulmonary function tests, exercise capacity, computed tomography images and questionnaires.

Detailed Description

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This is a 5-year longitudinal study of the long-term lung health impact of e-cigarette smoking. Participants with a history of e-cigarette smoking age ≥ 16 years will be recruited from within 2 hours of London, ON through local family and tertiary care physicians, emergency departments and community and social media advertisements. Asymptomatic age and sex-matched participants who have never smoked e- or c-cigarettes will be recruited through community advertisement, media and social media. Participants must satisfy all inclusion and exclusion criteria in order to participate in the study. We will compare lung health of participants at baseline, 12 weeks, 24 weeks and 48 weeks, 3 years, 4 years and 5 years with an asymptomatic control group with no history of e-cigarette or c-cigarette use. The study will involve 6 in-person visits and 1 telephone call for a health update. All measurements will be made with at least 4 hours after the last cigarette and/or vape to provide a way to practically focus on chronic and not acute effects. Pulmonary function and imaging measurements will be made before and after bronchodilator administration.

At Visit 1, informed consent will be obtained before any study related assessments or procedures are performed. Eligibility criteria will be reviewed. Safety assessments including vital signs, pulmonary function testing, hematology, sputum sampling, exercise testing, and respiratory questionnaires will be completed.

Visit 2 will take place 12 weeks after visit 1 and will include vital signs, pre and post bronchodilator pulmonary function testing, pre and post bronchodilator MRI imaging, chest CT scan, exercise testing, and questionnaires.

Visit 3 will take place at 24 weeks and will involve a telephone call to update health information as well as questionnaires.

Visit 4 will take place at 48 weeks and will involve vital signs, pre and post bronchodilator pulmonary function testing, pre and post bronchodilator MRI imaging, hematology, blood chemistry, sputum analysis, exercise testing, and questionnaires.

Visit 5 will take place at year 3 and will involve vital signs, pre and post bronchodilator pulmonary function testing, pre and post bronchodilator MRI imaging, blood draw, sputum induction and analysis, exercise testing and questionnaires.

Visit 6 will take place at year 4 and will involve vital signs, pre and post bronchodilator pulmonary function testing, pre and post bronchodilator MRI imaging, blood draw, sputum induction and analysis, exercise testing and questionnaires.

Visit 7 will take place at year 5 and will involve vital signs, pre and post bronchodilator pulmonary function testing, pre and post bronchodilator MRI imaging, blood draw, sputum induction and analysis, exercise testing and questionnaires.

Conditions

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E Cigarette Use

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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c-cigarette never users

Includes 70 participants who are e-cigarette users who have never smoked combustible cigarettes.

Hyperpolarized Xenon-129 MRI of the lungs

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will be imaged using MRI using hyperpolarized xenon-129 gas as a contrast gas

Computed Tomography (CT)

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will undergo a CT scan of the thoracic cavity

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT)

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will have their lung function evaluated using PFT

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will perform cardiopulmonary exercise testing as a measure of exercise capacity

Sputum analysis

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will provide a sputum sample that will be analysed for eosinophils

Blood analysis

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will have their blood drawn and analysed for eosinophil count.

Questionnaires

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will complete questionnaires to assess activity related dyspnea, respiratory symptoms and health status impairment and respiratory related quality of life.

former or current c-cigarette users

Includes 70 participants who are e-cigarette users who are also former or current combustible cigarette smokers.

Hyperpolarized Xenon-129 MRI of the lungs

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will be imaged using MRI using hyperpolarized xenon-129 gas as a contrast gas

Computed Tomography (CT)

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will undergo a CT scan of the thoracic cavity

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT)

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will have their lung function evaluated using PFT

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will perform cardiopulmonary exercise testing as a measure of exercise capacity

Sputum analysis

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will provide a sputum sample that will be analysed for eosinophils

Blood analysis

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will have their blood drawn and analysed for eosinophil count.

Questionnaires

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will complete questionnaires to assess activity related dyspnea, respiratory symptoms and health status impairment and respiratory related quality of life.

never smokers

Includes 10 participants who have never smoked e-cigarettes or combustible cigarettes.

Hyperpolarized Xenon-129 MRI of the lungs

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will be imaged using MRI using hyperpolarized xenon-129 gas as a contrast gas

Computed Tomography (CT)

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will undergo a CT scan of the thoracic cavity

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT)

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will have their lung function evaluated using PFT

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will perform cardiopulmonary exercise testing as a measure of exercise capacity

Sputum analysis

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will provide a sputum sample that will be analysed for eosinophils

Blood analysis

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Participants will have their blood drawn and analysed for eosinophil count.

Questionnaires

Intervention Type OTHER

Participants will complete questionnaires to assess activity related dyspnea, respiratory symptoms and health status impairment and respiratory related quality of life.

Interventions

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Hyperpolarized Xenon-129 MRI of the lungs

Participants will be imaged using MRI using hyperpolarized xenon-129 gas as a contrast gas

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Computed Tomography (CT)

Participants will undergo a CT scan of the thoracic cavity

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Pulmonary Function Tests (PFT)

Participants will have their lung function evaluated using PFT

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)

Participants will perform cardiopulmonary exercise testing as a measure of exercise capacity

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Sputum analysis

Participants will provide a sputum sample that will be analysed for eosinophils

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Blood analysis

Participants will have their blood drawn and analysed for eosinophil count.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Questionnaires

Participants will complete questionnaires to assess activity related dyspnea, respiratory symptoms and health status impairment and respiratory related quality of life.

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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129Xe MRI CT PFT CPET

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Written informed consent must be directly obtained from legally competent participants before any study-related assessment is performed.
* Male and female participant age ≥16 years.
* Participant has recently started vaping, \>1 and \<5 years weekly use.
* 70 participants will be c-cigarette never users.
* 70 participants will be former or current c-cigarette users.
* 10 asymptomatic age and sex-matched healthy people who have never used e- or c-cigarettes will be controls.

Exclusion Criteria

* Participants with contraindications for undergoing an MRI such as participants with MRI-sensitive implants, tattoos with MRI-sensitive dye and severe claustrophobia.
* Participant is, in the opinion of the investigator, mentally or legally incapacitated, preventing informed consent from being obtained, or cannot read or understand written material.
* Participant unable to perform spirometry or plethysmography maneuvers.
Minimum Eligible Age

16 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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London Health Sciences Centre

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Western University, Canada

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Dr. Grace Parraga

PhD, Scientist. Robarts Research Institute

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Grace E Parraga

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Western University - Robarts Research Institute

Locations

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Robarts Research Institute; The University of Western Ontario; London Health Sciences Centre

London, Ontario, Canada

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Canada

Central Contacts

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Grace E Parraga, PhD

Role: CONTACT

519-931-5265

Angela Wilson, RRT

Role: CONTACT

519-931-5777 ext. 24197

Facility Contacts

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Grace E Parraga, PhD

Role: primary

519-931-5265

References

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Other Identifiers

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ROB0048

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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