title: Multiple breath washout is feasible in the clinical setting and detects abnormal lung function in infants and young children with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease starts in the first months of life often before the onset of clinical symptoms. Multiple breath washout (MBW) detects abnormal lung function in infants and young children in the laboratory setting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of MBW in 0- to 4-year-old children with CF and non-CF controls in the clinical setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen children with CF (mean age 1.3 ± 1.0 years) and 26 age-matched non-CF controls were sedated with chloral hydrate and MBW was performed with sulfur hexafluoride.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MBW measurements were successful in 27 of 40 children (67.5%). The mean lung clearance index (LCI) was significantly higher in CF patients compared to non-CF controls (p = 0.006). Further, the frequency of elevated LCI (z-score >1.96) was significantly increased in CF patients compared to controls (p = 0.0003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that MBW is feasible and sensitive to detect abnormal lung function in infants and young children with CF in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy and Cystic Fibrosis Center, Department of Pediatrics, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Mirjam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Joachim
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blessing
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hämmerling
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sommerburg
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Latzin
authors.forename: Marcus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mall
mesh_terms: D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride
chemical_list: D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride