CClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT04536883MICRAUpdated Oct 6, 2021

MICRA - Pilot Study

An interventional study of microscopy confocal in Rejection Lung Transplant, sponsored by Nantes University Hospital. Completed at 1 site in France. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-10-06.

Sponsored by Nantes University Hospital · Not applicable, Interventional, and Diagnostic

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
20
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Acute cell rejection is a common complication of lung transplantation. The pathological diagnosis is based on the performance of transbronchial biopsies which are associated with a significant risk of potentially severe pneumothorax and hemoptysis. Confocal microscopy performed during bronchial endoscopy provides real-time images of the lungs on a microscopic scale. Thus, it is possible to visualize the alveoli, capillaries and intra-alveolar inflammatory cells. So far, work on the subject has only investigated the ability of this technique to determine the presence of acute cell rejection on post-fibroscopy analysis. Our hypothesis is that the absence of airway inflammation seen during the procedure by confocal microscopy is able to rule out the diagnosis of ACR and avoid the performance of transbronchial biopsies. Our job is to first assess the feasibility of the per-procedure evaluation and determine a decision algorithm. If the result is conclusive, a larger study will be carried out to assess the negative predictive value of this approach for the diagnosis of acute cell rejection.

Read the detailed description

During the patient's usual follow-up, if an ACR is suspected and it is decided to perform an endoscopy with transbronchial biopsies, the protocol is presented to the patient by the doctor in charge. If the patient agrees to participate in the study, consent is obtained. Collection on arrival of the patient's sex, age, weight, height, respiratory background leading to the patient's lung transplant.

According to the department's protocol: carrying out functional respiratory tests, a biological assessment (CBC, hemostasis and CRP) and a chest x-ray prior to the procedure except if there is another chest imaging dating less than 24 hours testifying to the absence of pneumothorax. Premedication with hydroxyzine, insertion of a peripheral venous route, verification of the patient's identity, anticoagulant or anti-aggregating treatment and potential allergy.

The fibroscopy is carried out according to the usual procedure of the service, namely: realization of 1 to 2 mg of hypnovel intravenously depending on the patient's tolerance, introduction of the fiberscope preferably via the nasal route, if impossible or contraindicated, the oral route is possible with the use of a bite block to protect the fiberscope. Visualization of the mobility of the vocal cords, trachea, carina and right and left bronchial tree up to the segmental level. Identification of the quality of the sutures and the possible presence of bronchial stenosis. Realization of a bronchial trap with bacteriological and mycological analysis. Performing a bronchoalveolar lavage (90cc of physiological serum, preferably in the middle lobe) with anatomopathological, virological, bacteriological, mycological and mycobacteriological analysis.

At this stage, the confocal microscopy procedure begins:

Taking pictures for post-procedure analysis in 4 different territories. For each territory, the investigator need to get a snapshot of a vascular structure and a snapshot of an alveolus.

Analysis per procedure: the same operator analyzes the alveoli deemed to be representative in real time. It determines the presence of intra-alveolar inflammatory cells and answers the question of the main criterion: possible interpretation in confocal microscopy? YES / NO, the clinical researcher immediately notes the answer in the CRF. Based on this per-procedure analysis, if he deems the interpretation possible, the operator declares if he concludes that pulmonary inflammation is present YES / NO, the response is noted immediately in the CRF.

The fibroscopy procedure is then resumed as usual in the department, namely:

Performing 5 to 6 transbronchial biopsies. The number of biopsies depends on the patient's tolerance and the occurrence of complications such as hemorrhage or pneumothorax. Checking at the end of the procedure for the absence of active intra-bronchial bleeding, followed by a frontal chest X-ray to check for the absence of pneumothorax (examination carried out routinely even in the event of bronchial endoscopy with simple BTB). If there are no complications and if the pathological analysis of the lung biopsies does not conclude that there is an acute cellular rejection, the patient can return home at the end of the day. If the pathologist concludes that there is a rejection or that there is a complication, the patient remains hospitalized for the time necessary for medical treatment.

02

Conditions studied

  • Rejection Lung Transplant

Keywords

  • Confocal Microscopy
  • Acute cell rejection
  • Lung Transplantation
03

In context

Lead sponsor

Nantes University Hospital is the lead sponsor of 825 studies on the registry; 195 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Follow-up by the Nantes University Hospital team for a lung transplant
  • Having given their consent
  • Clinical suspicion of acute cellular rejection OR systematic fibroscopy post transplantation to screen for acute asymptomatic rejection

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Minor or adult patient under guardianship and protected person
  • FEV1 \<40% of theoretical at the time of inclusion
  • Bleeding disorder
  • Pneumothorax existing before the performance of the fibroscopy
  • Active smoking less than 1 year old
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Diagnostic
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
20 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Microscopy confocal

    The fibroscopy is carried out according to the usual procedure of the service. During the fibroscopy, for all patient, the confocal microscopy procedure begins. After the end of confocal procedure, 5 to 6 transbronchial biopsies are performing

    Procedure: microscopy confocal

Interventions

  • Proceduremicroscopy confocal

    At this stage, the confocal microscopy procedure begins: Taking pictures for post-procedure analysis in 4 different territories. For each territory, the investigator need to get a snapshot of a vascular structure and a snapshot of an alveolus. Analysis per procedure: the same operator analyzes the alveoli deemed to be representative in real time. It determines the presence of intra-alveolar inflammatory cells and answers the question of the main criterion: possible interpretation in confocal microscopy? YES / NO, the clinical researcher immediately notes the answer in the CRF. Based on this per-procedure analysis, if he deems the interpretation possible, the operator declares if he concludes that pulmonary inflammation is present YES / NO, the response is noted immediately in the CRF. The fibroscopy procedure is then resumed as usual in the department, namely:

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Determine ability of the operator

    The main objective of this study is to determine the ability of the operator to obtain and interpret confocal microscopy images per procedure. analyzes in real time the images provided by the confocal microscopy probe. the operator determines the presence of intra-alveolar inflammatory cells and evaluates the vessel wall. On the basis of this per-procedure analysis, if the operator considers the interpretation possible, he declares whether he concludes that the presence of pulmonary inflammation is consistent with the diagnosis of rejection.

    Time frame: 1 day

Secondary outcomes

  1. Adverse effects

    assess the adverse effects: patient comfort, procedure time and complications (hemoptysis, pneumothorax

    Time frame: 1 day

  2. ability of confocal microscopy to eliminate acute cellular rejection

    assess the ability of confocal microscopy to eliminate acute cellular rejection

    Time frame: 1 day

  3. Correlation confocal microscopy and proven infection

    to assess the correlation of the parameters observed in confocal microscopy associated with a proven infection (main differential diagnosis of acute cell rejection)

    Time frame: 1 day

  4. Correlation inter operator

    The correlation between the analysis per procedure by the operator and the analysis of the images by the second a posteriori expert

    Time frame: 1 day

07

Study locations

1 site
  • CHU Nantes
    Nantes, France
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 6, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04536883
Lead sponsor
Nantes University Hospital
Collaborators
Institut de Recherche en Santé Respiratoire des Pays de la Loire
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 3, 2020
Start date
Sep 23, 2020
Primary completion
Aug 18, 2021
Completion
Aug 18, 2021
Last update
Oct 6, 2021

Study contacts

Adrien TISSOT, MD
principal investigator · Nantes University Hospital

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Start the discussion