title: Seven percent hypertonic saline--0.1% hyaluronic acid in infants with mild-to-moderate bronchiolitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of 7% hypertonic saline and 0.1% hyaluronic acid (7% HS-HA) given by inhalation, in infants hospitalized for mild-to-moderate bronchiolitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a double-blind controlled study, 39 infants (23 boys) <7 months of age (median age 2 months) were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either nebulized 7% HS-HA (7%NaCl + 0.1%HA) (n:21) or 0.9 normal saline (NS) (n:18) at a dose of 2.5 ml twice a day for 3 days. All infants were assigned a clinical severity score at admission and four times daily during hospitalization. Main outcome measures were number of days hospitalization, safety and daily reduction in the severity score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No difference was found between the two groups for clinical severity score at admission. One child in the study group and two in the NS group interrupted the study protocol; 19% of infants in the study group and 11% in the NS group had mild cough after the aerosol. The length of stay in the control group and treatment groups were 4.8 ± 1.5 versus 4.1 ± 1.9 days, respectively (P = 0.09). There was a trend for shortening the hospitalization days in the treatment group by 14.6%. The use of NS in the control group was identified as an independent risk factor for length of hospital stay using the multivariate logistic regression model (P = 0.04). No difference was observed between the two groups for the clinical score reduction during the first 3 days hospitalization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  7% HS-HA is a safe and effective therapy in treating infants hospitalized for mild-to-moderate bronchiolitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nenna
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papoff
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Angelis
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papasso
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernabucci
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cangiano
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petrarca
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvadei
authors.forename: Ambra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolai
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: Enea
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonci
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Midulla
mesh_terms: D001988:Bronchiolitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055675:Viscosupplements / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D055675:Viscosupplements; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid
keywords: 7% hypertonic saline; bronchiolitis; hospital treatment; hyaluronic acid; therapy