In:
Respiratory Research, Springer Science and Business Media LLC, Vol. 6, No. 1 ( 2005-12)
Abstract:
In a cross-sectional analysis of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with mild lung disease, reduced surfactant activity was correlated to increased neutrophilic airway inflammation, but not to lung function. So far, longitudinal measurements of surfactant function in CF patients are lacking and it remains unclear how these alterations relate to the progression of airway inflammation as well as decline in pulmonary function over time. Methods As part of the BEAT trial, a longitudinal study to assess the course of airway inflammation in CF, we studied lung function, surfactant function and endobronchial inflammation using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 20 CF patients with normal pulmonary function (median FEV 1 94% of predicted) at three times over a three year period. Results There was a progressive loss of surfactant function, assessed as minimal surface tension. The decline in surfactant function was negatively correlated to an increase in neutrophilic inflammation and a decrease in lung function, assessed by FEV 1 , MEF 75/25%VC , and MEF 25%VC . The concentrations of the surfactant specific proteins A, C and D did not change, whereas SP-B increased during this time period. Conclusion Our findings suggest a link between loss of surfactant function driven by progressive airway inflammation and loss of small airway function in CF patients with limited lung disease.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1465-993X
DOI:
10.1186/1465-9921-6-133
Language:
English
Publisher:
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Date:
2005
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2041675-1
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