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Menstrual cycle impacts lung structure measures derived from quantitative computed tomography
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Menstrual cycle impacts lung structure measures derived from quantitative computed tomography

Jessica C. Sieren, Kimberly E. Schroeder, Junfeng Guo, Kewal Asosingh, Serpil Erzurum and Eric A. Hoffman
European radiology, Vol.32(5), pp.2883-2890
12/20/2021
DOI: 10.1007/s00330-021-08404-9
PMCID: PMC9038622
PMID: 34928413
url
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/9038622View
Open Access

Abstract

Objective Quantitative computed tomography (qCT) is being increasingly incorporated in research studies and clinical trials aimed at understanding lung disease risk, progression, exacerbations, and intervention response. Menstrual cycle-based changes in lung function are recognized; however, the impact on qCT measures is currently unknown. We hypothesize that the menstrual cycle impacts qCT-derived measures of lung structure in healthy women and that the degree of measurement change may be mitigated in subjects on cyclic hormonal birth control. Methods Thirty-one non-smoking, healthy women with regular menstrual cycles (16 of which were on cyclic hormonal birth control) underwent pulmonary function testing and qCT imaging at both menses and early luteal phase time points. Data were evaluated to identify lung measurements which changed significantly across the two key time points and to compare degree of change across metrics for the sub-cohort with versus without birth control. Results The segmental airway measurements were larger and mean lung density was higher at menses compared to the early luteal phase. The sub-cohort with cyclic hormonal birth control did not have less evidence of measurement difference over the menstrual cycle compared to the sub-cohort without hormonal birth control. Conclusions This study provides evidence that qCT-derived measures from the lung are impacted by the female menstrual cycle. This indicates studies seeking to use qCT as a more sensitive measure of cross-sectional differences or longitudinal changes in these derived lung measurements should consider acquiring data at a consistent time in the menstrual cycle for pre-menopausal women and warrants further exploration.
Life Sciences & Biomedicine Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging Science & Technology

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