TY - JOUR T1 - <em>Pseudomonas</em> infection and mucociliary and absorptive clearance in the cystic fibrosis lung JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 1392 LP - 1401 DO - 10.1183/13993003.01880-2015 VL - 47 IS - 5 AU - Landon W. Locke AU - Michael M. Myerburg AU - Daniel J. Weiner AU - Matthew R. Markovetz AU - Robert S. Parker AU - Ashok Muthukrishnan AU - Lawrence Weber AU - Michael R. Czachowski AU - Ryan T. Lacy AU - Joseph M. Pilewski AU - Timothy E. Corcoran Y1 - 2016/05/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/47/5/1392.abstract N2 - Airway surface liquid hyperabsorption and mucus accumulation are key elements of cystic fibrosis lung disease that can be assessed in vivo using functional imaging methods. In this study we evaluated experimental factors affecting measurements of mucociliary clearance (MCC) and small-molecule absorption (ABS) and patient factors associated with abnormal absorption and mucus clearance.Our imaging technique utilises two radiopharmaceutical probes delivered by inhalation. Measurement repeatability was assessed in 10 adult cystic fibrosis subjects. Experimental factors were assessed in 29 adult and paediatric cystic fibrosis subjects (51 scans). Patient factors were assessed in a subgroup with optimal aerosol deposition (37 scans; 24 subjects). Paediatric subjects (n=9) underwent initial and 2-year follow-up scans. Control subjects from a previously reported study are included for comparison.High rates of central aerosol deposition influenced measurements of ABS and, to a lesser extent, MCC. Depressed MCC in cystic fibrosis was only detectable in subjects with previous Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Cystic fibrosis subjects without P. aeruginosa had similar MCC to control subjects. Cystic fibrosis subjects had consistently higher ABS rates.We conclude that the primary experimental factor affecting MCC/ABS measurements is central deposition percentage. Depressed MCC in cystic fibrosis is associated with P. aeruginosa infection. ABS is consistently increased in cystic fibrosis.Depressed mucus clearance in cystic fibrosis was only detectable in subjects with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection http://ow.ly/YggZy ER -