<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/b><\/p>\n
THURSDAY, Dec. 13, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In infants with cystic fibrosis (CF), preventive inhalation with hypertonic saline (HS) during the first months of life is safe and well tolerated and results in clinical improvements, according to a study recently published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Mirjam Stahl, M.D., from the University of Heidelberg in Germany, and colleagues randomly assigned 42 infants (aged <4 months) with CF to twice-daily inhalation of 6 percent HS or 0.9 percent isotonic saline for 52 weeks to assess the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of preventive inhalation strategies.<\/p>\n
The researchers found that inhalation of HS and IS was generally well tolerated, with no difference in the number of adverse events between the groups (P = 0.49). The change in lung clearance index during the study period was larger in CF infants treated with HS versus those treated with IS (P < 0.05). Further, in infants treated with HS, weight gain improved over that of the IS group (P < 0.05). Pulmonary exacerbations and chest magnetic resonance imaging scores did not differ between the groups.<\/p>\n
“This initial randomized controlled trial supports that preventive treatment with inhaled hypertonic saline is safe and well-tolerated, and has therapeutic benefits on lung function and thriving in the first year of life,” the authors write.<\/p>\n
Study solutions and inhalation devices were provided by Pari GmbH.<\/p>\n
Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n