Diagnosed CF + P. aeruginosa. 59 participants. 32 Males. Age range 6 to 30 years.
Interventions
Pari LC Plus nebuliser and Pari TurboBoy compressor. Tobramycin 300 mg (Bramitob®) or placebo twice daily for 4 weeks followed by a 4-week run-out phase.
FEV(1) significantly increased from baseline in the tobramycin group compared with no change in the placebo group: the absolute difference between groups (intent-to-treat population) of predicted normal was 13.2% at week 2 (p = 0.002) and 13.3% at week 4 (p = 0.003). Significant differences in favor of the tobramycin group were also observed for FVC and FEF(25-75%). The microbiologic results at the end of the treatment period (P. aeruginosa-negative culture, persistence, superinfection) showed a significantly better outcome in the tobramycin group compared with placebo (p = 0.033). The effects of tobramycin on pulmonary function and microbiology were not maintained at the end of the run-out phase. Mean sputum concentrations of tobramycin after the first dose (695.6 +/- 817.0 microg/mL) were similar to those measured after the last dose (716.9 +/- 799 microg/mL) and were superior to the detected specific MIC(90). The proportion of patients with drug-related adverse events was lower in the tobramycin group and no signs of renal or auditory toxicity were observed.
Authors' conclusions
The 4-week administration of a highly concentrated TSI significantly improved pulmonary function and microbiologic outcome compared with placebo and was well tolerated. The results of this study should be confirmed in further long-term trials in larger populations.