Inhaled mannitol in cystic fibrosis

摘要

Inhaled mannitol has recently been given fast-track status as an investigational drug to treat the lung manifestations of cystic fibrosis.It seems to work in a similar way to nebulized hypertonic saline,osmotically inducing water flux into the bronchial lumen,thereby increasing the hydration of airway mucus,which can then be cleared more effectively by mucociliary clearance and coughing.Short-term studies have shown good tolerability and improvements in lung mucociliary clearance.Longer-term studies studying end points of clinical relevance are ongoing.This article assesses its likely future role in cystic fibrosis.