Nasal airway inflammatory responses and pathogen detection in infants with cystic fibrosis

Measuring airway inflammation in infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) is difficult, especially in a non-invasive manner. Currently available clinical assays of inflammation are limited by access, volume (blood), and invasiveness (bronchoalveolar lavage). However, accurate inflammatory assessments are important as early inflammatory changes in infants with CF are linked to structural lung damage and are associated with long-term outcomes [1 –3]. Furthermore, current recommendations for the management of infants with CF do not include anti-inflammatories or even mandate mucolytic therapies [4], in part due to a lack of accurate assessments of on-going inflammation and disease progression in infants.
Source: Journal of Cystic Fibrosis - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research