Results
To assess whether ETI therapy affected lower airway inflammation, we
identified 16 patients who had bronchoscopy and BAL performed while on
ETI therapy. Two individuals were excluded who did not have comparison
bronchoscopies performed while not on ETI therapy within five years, and
a further 6 were excluded due to pre or post ETI bronchoscopy being
performed for suspected bronchopneumonia. The study population consisted
of 8 subjects, all white, and was 75% male with an average age of
12.7±5.3 years at the time of the bronchoscopy on ETI therapy. The
locations of bronchoalveolar lavage were determined clinically. In 42%
of subjects lavage was performed in different lobes in the matched
procedures.
BAL markers of neutrophilic inflammation were significantly reduced in
the samples obtained from PwCF while on ETI, including both %
neutrophils and neutrophil counts (Fig. 1A-B ). While pathogens
were recovered from 5 of 8 PwCF not on ETI, no pathogens were recovered
from any procedure performed on an individual on ETI (Fig. 1D ).