Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
RCT
Participants
26 stable patients (median+/-SD forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 58.1+/-19.9% pred.). Study group (n=12), control group (n=14).
Interventions
study group (500 microg b.i.d. of iInhaled corticosteroids, for three weeks) or the control group (n=14; nonsteroid medication). Sputum samples were obtained during inhalation of hypertonic saline (3%, 20 min), which was found not to alter the investigated sputum parameters.
Outcome measures
clinical parameters, sputum leukocyte count, activity of myeloperoxidase, and superoxide anion release
Main results
No significant changes in clinical parameters, sputum leukocyte count, activity of myeloperoxidase, and baseline superoxide anion release where observed following therapy. Surprisingly, stimulated superoxide anion release increased significantly after therapy (34.1+/-17.7 versus 25.2+/-17.4 nmol x hr(-1) x 10(6) cells, p<0.03) and exceeded spontaneous variability of this parameter (p=0.02 versus control group)
Authors' conclusions
in adult cystic fibrosis patients short-term fluticasone therapy had no evident effect on clinical and sputum parameters. Further investigations are necessary to evaluate whether the observed up-regulation of oxidative capacity of inflammatory cells is of concern or benefit in these patients.