NHLBI Media Availability: Treatment Shows
Long-term Benefits for Cystic Fibrosis Patients
New research suggests that inhaling hypertonic saline,
a water-based concentrated salt solution, could provide
long-term benefits for lung health in patients with
cystic fibrosis (CF). Researchers at the University
of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill tested the
effects of inhaling the saline four times daily for
14 days in 24 older patients with CF (ages 14 years
or older). The treatment significantly improved mucus
clearance, lung function, and breathing symptoms.
If confirmed, the findings could lead to a new and
inexpensive treatment for CF. The study was funded
by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and by
the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
“Sustained Improvement in Mucus Clearance and
Lung Function in Cystic Fibrosis with Hypertonic Saline”
will be published in the January 19 issue of the New
England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). This week's
NEJM also includes a report by Australian
researchers who followed 164 patients receiving a
similar treatment for nearly one year, as well as
an editorial about the two studies.
NHLBI lung disease experts James Kiley, PhD, director
of the Division of Lung Diseases, and Gail Weinmann,
MD, director of the Airway Biology and Disease Program,
are available to discuss the research findings and
the outlook for CF patients. CF is a chronic, progressive,
and frequently fatal genetic disease that affects
about 30,000 children and young adults in the United
States. The UNC researchers believe that the concentrated
saline increases mucus volume, which helps the airways
to clear bacteria and inhaled debris and could limit
the number and severity of lung infections. Repeated
infections are thought to contribute to lung damage
over time. The study results could be particularly
important if future research shows that the treatment
similarly benefits infants and young children and
could ultimately prevent or delay lung damage. Respiratory
failure is the most common cause of death in CF patients.
To schedule interviews, contact the NHLBI Communications
Office at 301-496-4236.
For more information on cystic fibrosis, please see
the cystic
fibrosis entry in the NHLBI Diseases and Conditions
Index.
NHLBI is part of the National Institutes of Health
(NIH), the Federal Government’s primary agency
for biomedical and behavioral research. NIH is
a component
of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
NHLBI press releases and fact sheets, including
information
on cystic fibrosis, are available at www.nhlbi.nih.gov.
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