A scientific article using the EXHALYZER®D was recently published in the Journal of Cystic Fibrosis by K. M. Hardaker and colleagues from Sydney, Australia.
The goal of the study was to determine the clinical and prognostic value of nitrogen multiple breath washout (N2MBW) in preschool cystic fibrosis (CF) subjects. Hardaker and colleagues tested a total of 220 pediatric subjects with the EXHALYZER®D MBW device and found that the lung clearance index (LCI) was abnormal in the majority of tested subjects. A higher LCI was correlated with higher medication use, a more severe cystic fibrosis genotype and previous positive bacterial cultures. Also, an initial abnormal LCI was associated with worse later spirometry performance.
The results demonstrate that MBW can yield information on current, and more interestingly future clinical status and can offer prognostic abilities for later lung function. This study strengthens the argument that preschool children with CF should routinely undergo MBW testing in order to detect CF related lung diseases at an early stage.
In contrast to spirometry, MBW informs on current and future clinical status in preschool CF children and holds prognostic utility for later spirometry outcomes.
Original article: Abnormal preschool Lung Clearance Index (LCI) reflects clinical status and predicts lower spirometry later in childhood in cystic fibrosis.
