WITHDRAWN: Safety of Denervation Following Targeted Lung Denervation Therapy for COPD: AIRFLOW-1 Three-year Outcomes

Abstract

Background: Targeted lung denervation (TLD) is a novel bronchoscopic therapy that disrupts parasympathetic pulmonary nerve input to the lung reducing clinical consequences of cholinergic hyperactivity. The AIRFLOW-1 study assessed safety and TLD dose in patients with moderate-to-severe, symptomatic COPD. This analysis evaluated the long-term impact of TLD on COPD exacerbations, pulmonary function, and quality of life over three years of follow up.Methods: TLD was performed in a prospective, energy-level randomized (29 W vs 32 W power), multicenter study (NCT02058459). Additional patients were enrolled in an open label confirmation phase to confirm improved gastrointestinal safety after procedural modifications. Durability of TLD was evaluated at one, two, and three years post-treatment and assessed through analysis of COPD exacerbations, pulmonary lung function, and quality of life. Results: Three-year follow-up data were available for 73.9% of patients (n=34). The annualized rate of moderate to severe COPD exacerbations remained stable over the duration of the study. Lung function (FEV1, FVC, RV, and TLC) and quality of life (SGRQ-C and CAT) remained stable over three years of follow-up. No new gastrointestinal adverse events and no unexpected serious adverse events were observed. Conclusion: TLD in COPD patients demonstrated a positive safety profile out to three years, with no late-onset serious adverse events related to denervation therapy. Clinical stability in lung function, quality of life, and exacerbations were observed in TLD treated patients over three years of follow up.