A comparison of the efficacy and tolerance of pancrelipase and placebo in the treatment of steatorrhea in cystic fibrosis patients with clinical exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.
standard postural drainage chest physiotherapy (SPT) or a modified physiotherapy regimen without head-down tilt (MPT). Parents kept a detailed symptom and treatment diary for the following 12 months.
Outcome measures
Serial chest radiographs, taken at diagnosis, 12 months, 2(1/2) years, and 5 years after diagnosis, were assessed using the Brasfield score. Pulmonary function tests were compared between groups after 5 years.
Main results
Of the 20 infants, 16 (80%) completed the review at 12 months, and 14 (70%) at 2(1/2) and 5 years. Patients receiving SPT had more days with upper respiratory tract symptoms than those on MPT (70 +/- 32.8 vs. 37 +/- 24.9 days; P = 0.04) and required longer courses of antibiotics (23 +/- 28.5 vs. 14 +/- 11.2 days; P = 0.05). Chest x-ray scores were similar at diagnosis but were worse at 2(1/2) years for those receiving SPT (P = 0.03). Forced vital capacity and forced expired volume in 1 sec (FEV(1)) at 5-6 years was lower for SPT than for MPT (P < 0.05).
Authors' conclusions
MPT was associated with fewer respiratory complications than SPT in infants with CF.