Abnormalities in the lung function of infants with cystic fibrosis (CF) that are observed in the first two years of life are reportedly mild and transient, suggesting changes may be reversible during early life if standard care is adhered to, according to a new study published in the European Respiratory Journal.
UK-based researchers aimed to investigate the degree of infant lung function abnormality during the first 2 years of life in newborn screened infants with CF.
The authors measured forced expiratory volume in 0.5 s (FEV0.5), lung clearance index (LCI) and plethysmographic functional residual capacity at three months, one year and two years in 62 infants with CF and 34 healthy controls.
The authors report that at two years of age, group means for lung clearance index (LCI) and plethysmographic functional residual capacity z-scores were significantly higher in children with CF compared with healthy controls.
Forced expiratory volume z-scores were not different between groups at this time-point, and importantly no child had an abnormal LCI or FEV0.5 on all test occasions, precluding the ability to identify “high-risk” infants in early life.
The authors conclude that changes in lung function were mild and transient when managed according to a standardised UK treatment protocol, and changes in infant lung function may be reversible during early life if standard care is adhered to.