title: The use of multiple breath washout for assessing cystic fibrosis in infants.
abstract: Lung Clearance Index, measured using the multiple breath washout (MBW) technique, may be a useful test in infants with Cystic Fibrosis (CF). However, the requirement for specialised equipment and a number of important technical and methodological considerations relevant to testing in infants have complicated matters, and to date prevented its widespread translatability in this age group. Areas covered: We review the current status of infant MBW testing in CF, focusing on Lung Clearance Index. This includes a review of recent developments in the field relevant to testing methodology in the infant population, use in evaluating lung disease in CF in infancy, and the associated challenges which remain. Expert commentary: The challenges of infant MBW are not limited to those associated with testing equipment, but also gaps in our understanding regarding the interpretation of MBW indices in infants. This includes their relationship to underlying physiology and pathology, and tracking over time. Recent advances in understanding and improving the infant MBW test set up (including both hardware and software) relevant to infants will greatly progress the field.
authors.affiliation: a Respiratory Critical Care and Anaesthesia Section, Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Programme , UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health , London , UK.|b Respiratory Medicine , Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK.
authors.forename: Gwyneth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: a Respiratory Critical Care and Anaesthesia Section, Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Programme , UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health , London , UK.|b Respiratory Medicine , Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust , London , UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aurora
mesh_terms: D001944:Breath Tests; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D063189:Symptom Assessment
keywords: Cystic fibrosis; clinical trials; infant lung function; lung clearance index; multiple breath washout