Title |
Early intervention studies in infants and preschool children with cystic fibrosis: are we ready?
|
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Published in |
European Respiratory Journal, March 2013
|
DOI | 10.1183/09031936.00108212 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Stephen Stick, Harm Tiddens, Paul Aurora, Per Gustafsson, Sarath Ranganathan, Paul Robinson, Margaret Rosenfeld, Peter Sly, Felix Ratjen |
Abstract |
Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease starts early in life and progresses even in the absence of clinical symptoms. Therefore, sensitive outcome measures to quantify and track these early abnormalities in infants and young children are needed; both for clinical care and interventional trials. Currently, the efficacy of most therapeutic interventions in CF has not been tested in children under the age of 6 years and drug development programmes have focused on assessing safety rather than efficacy in this age group. This article summarises the current status for outcome measures that can be utilised in clinical trials in infants and children with CF. Two methodologies are specifically highlighted in this review; chest computed tomography to assess structural damage of the lung and multiple breath washout as a technique to quantify ventilation inhomogeneity. While not all questions regarding the utility of these outcome measures in infants and young children have been resolved, significant advances have been made and it now appears feasible to design and conduct adequately powered efficacy studies in this age group. This could be a crucial step to further improve outcomes in CF patients as initiating effective treatment early is considered essential to prevent permanent lung damage. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Unknown | 1 | 100% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 1 | 100% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 1 | 1% |
Australia | 1 | 1% |
Unknown | 66 | 97% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 11 | 16% |
Student > Master | 10 | 15% |
Student > Bachelor | 10 | 15% |
Researcher | 7 | 10% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 6 | 9% |
Other | 11 | 16% |
Unknown | 13 | 19% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 29 | 43% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 7 | 10% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 3 | 4% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 3 | 4% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 2 | 3% |
Other | 5 | 7% |
Unknown | 19 | 28% |