Elsevier

The Journal of Pediatrics

Volume 128, Issue 2, February 1996, Pages 271-274
The Journal of Pediatrics

Pilot study to assess the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis,☆☆,

Presented in part at the Annual Congress of the European Respiratory Society in Nice, France, Oct. 1-5, 1994, and at the Annual Congress of the Society of Paediatric Pneumology in Davos, Switzerland, March 16-18, 1995.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3476(96)70407-9Get rights and content

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis. STUDY DESIGN: We report a pilot study of 49 patients with cystic fibrosis and moderate to severe bronchial obstruction (forced expiratory volume in 1 second ≤55% of the predicted value); 25 patients were given inhaled corticosteroids for 30 days (1500 μg of beclomethasone via spacer), and 24 patients had the same standard treatment but no inhaled corticosteroids. RESULTS: Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and airway resistance showed significant improvement in both study groups, but thoracic gas volume and the diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide improved significantly only in the group given inhaled corticosteroids. When concomitant medications were taken into account, analysis of variance confirmed a significant effect of inhaled corticosteroids on the improvement of thoracic gas volume. CONCLUSION: Inhaled corticosteroids in combination with standard treatment can contribute to the improvement of lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis and moderate to severe bronchial obstruction. Our preliminary data seem encouraging enough to warrant a multicenter, long-term, blind control study. (J PEDIATR 1996;128:271-4)

Section snippets

METHODS

In our retrospective analysis of ICS, the mean FEV1 was 41% (SD = 14%) of the predicted values, and the magnitude of improvement achieved during the study period of 34.5 ± 12.5 days was 12.4%.5 To demonstrate the same amount of improvement in FEV1 on a significance level of 5%, we had to enroll 17 patients in each arm of the study; 25 patients were required to reach a significance level of 2%. Fifty patients admitted to our rehabilitation center in Davos, Switzerland, were informed about the

RESULTS

Characteristics of both study groups—such as age, severity of the disease as shown by Shwachman score6 or by total serum concentration of IgG,9 or atopic and infectious status (data not shown)—were not significantly different between the groups (p >0.05). The same applies to bacterial colonization and antibiotic treatment regimens (data not shown).

Lung function test results on entry are summarized in the Table. There was no significant difference in any measurement between the groups (p >0.05).

DISCUSSION

These preliminary data from a controlled study of ICS in the treatment of patients with CF show that, for a limited time, topically administered steroids significantly improved TGV and CO diffusion. The improvement of bronchial obstruction and pulmonary hyperinflation was accompanied by significantly better CO diffusion, suggesting a better peripheral ventilation/perfusion ratio.

Our study has limitations, mainly the short duration of therapy, the lack of standardization of other therapy, the

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From Alpine Children's Hospital, Davos Platz, Switzerland

☆☆

Reprint requests: Wilfried H. Nikolaizik, MD, Alpine Children's Hospital, Scalettastr. 5, CH-7270 Davos Platz, Switzerland.

0022-3476/96/$5.00 + 0 9/25/69629

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