‘Scaffolding’ in lungs shows promise for emphysema patients

An exciting new study has published early clinical trial results suggesting that airway scaffolding may offer a promising new treatment option for people living with emphysema.

Led by researchers at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals (RBHH), the ongoing clinical trial aims to test whether a self-expanding metal tube, known as an airway scaffold, can help release trapped air from damaged, overinflated areas of the lung in people with emphysema.

What is emphysema?

Emphysema is a lung disease where there is damage to the walls of the tiny air sacs of the lungs, called alveoli.

In healthy lungs, the alveoli are elastic and springy, which helps them inflate and allow for easy breathing. When the alveoli are damaged, most often by smoking or breathing in harmful substances, they lose their shape and break down. This causes the air sacs to merge into larger, less efficient spaces, leading to trapped air, making it hard to breathe.

Current treatments for emphysema do not always work well, so researchers are continually exploring new options. One such effort comes from the team at RBHH, led by respiratory consultant Professor Pallav Shah, who recently published these promising results.

This ongoing study looked at a tiny, self-expanding metal device (called an airway scaffold) that can be placed in the lungs to help release trapped air.

The trial so far

The study enrolled 60 participants with emphysema who had high levels of trapped air in their lungs. Each participant underwent a bronchoscopy, during which up to 3 scaffolds were placed in each lung.

The aim of the study was to assess if there were any serious complications within 6 months (safety), if the scaffolds could be placed successfully (feasibility) and if there were improvements in breathing, symptoms and overall quality of life (effectiveness).

Although this is still an early-stage study (6 months), the results so far are promising, with improved lung function and a reduction of about 800ml in trapped air at both 3 and 6 months.

Participants also reported better breathing, quality of life, and exercise ability.

Commenting on the preliminary findings, Professor Shah highlighted the potential impact of the treatment and the importance of further research. He said:

“This early study shows promise in a group of patients with emphysema who had no treatment options, and, in the majority, they experienced dramatic improvements in their quality of life. In the next study we have to see if these benefits are maintained in comparison to a placebo group.”

The study is ongoing, and the team plans to continue recruitment, aiming for approximately 225 participants from Europe and the USA.

You can read the full study results in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

To find out more about our research, please contact the research team.