Search

Background and Aims: Repeated intravenous antibiotic therapy (IVAT) against chronic pulmonary infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is often necessary in cystic fibrosis patients (CF). The aim of this study was to monitor kinetics of degradation of pulmonary and nutritional status after IVAT in CF patients., Methods: Lung function, nutritional status and physical activity (PA) were measured for 21 CF patients (mean +/- SD age, 16 +/- 1.9 years; 9 boys) who were chronically colonized by P. aeruginosa. Each parameter was measured every 15 days during 3-6 months., Results: Nutritional status as well as PA did not change in the interval of 2 IVAT. In contrary, lung function worsened with a decrease of -14.6% of the FEV(1) (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: In CF, there is a progressive decrease in lung function without any evident deterioration of nutritional status and PA between two IVAT., ((c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

During investigations for cystic fibrosis, 41 children, most of whom were aged 0 to 7 years, were submitted to lung scintigraphy with technetium 99m first and xenon 133 subsequently. This procedure ensured accurate location of pulmonary lesions. The reliability of the radio-isotopic study was assessed through comparison to conventional clinical and radiological criteria, arterial blood gas determinations and pulmonary function tests. Perfusion scintigraphy with technetium 99m labelled macroaggregated albumin (n = 90) was compared to functional parametrical xenon, 133 study (n = 25) (perfusion-ventilation). The degree of lung disease was evaluated during serial examinations in order to improve prognostic prediction. Technetium 99m scintigraphy proves a reliable and sensitive procedure which accurately reflects the patients' clinical status when it is performed in the absence of patent pulmonary superinfection. Xenon 133 scintigraphy, which is more difficult to perform and interpret, has the advantage of providing a topographic and quantitative evaluation of pulmonary blood flow and ventilatory efficiency.