Another Brick in the Wall: Lung Clearance Index and Lower Airways Pathology in Preschool Cystic Fibrosis

摘要

The presence of bacterial infection, as well as neutrophilic inflammation, in the lower airways of young children with cystic fibrosis (CF) is associated with earlier onset of bronchiectasis and a greater rate of lung function decline later in childhood (, 2), and it stands to reason that early identification and treatment of these pathologies could result in better long-term outcomes. However, invasive procedures, such as bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), are not suitable tools for routine clinical monitoring in this population, and other, noninvasive tests for tracking disease and guiding treatment decisions in these children are required.