Abstract
Introduction and aim: Multiple breath washout (MBW) is feasible in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) and potentially a valuable tool for measuring airway impairment. With implementation of new born screening (NBS) for CF in Denmark 2016 such tool was needed. By regular MBW occasions we aimed to find out if the lung function of CF infants is normal and stable.
Method: From Nov. 2017, SF6 MBW (Exhalyzer® D) was performed every 3 months (on days with no acute pulmonary symptoms) on all CF infants born after May 2016. Intranasal Dexmedetomidin was used as sedative.
Results: Forty-nine MBW occasions were accomplished in 16 infants, mean (range) age 14.5 (1-29) months. Longitudinal data from 13 infants are shown in Figure. The mean (range) LCI was 7.59 (6.15-10.6). Each infant showed a variable pattern indicating that regular assessments are needed. LCI was above the upper limit of normal at least once in 8/16 infants (17 tests) using data from 118 healthy infants (unpublished data, P. M. Gustafsson). Only 3 infants had persistently elevated LCI, of which one had a delayed CF diagnosis (8 months of age) due to a false negative NBS. The majority had normal values.
Conclusion: Our preliminary data indicate that longitudinally SF6 MBW may detect and monitor early airway impairment in infants with CF. Longer follow up is needed to thoroughly understand the clinical impact of MBW changes in infants with CF.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2019; 54: Suppl. 63, PA345.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2019