Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
randomized trial
Participants
10 CF patients, 8 to 28 years of age
Interventions
First day, they inhaled in a randomised order isotonic saline and a solution of amiloride hydrochloride (0.3 mg/ml) one after another, each inhalation taking twenty minutes. Second day, inhalations were performed in an inverse order. To intensify the effect of inhalation, the inhalation procedure was combined with "autogenic drainage", a special kind of physiotherapy.
Outcome measures
Main criterion for evaluation was the amount of expectorated sputum.
Main results
Mean increase of sputum during amiloride inhalation in comparison to saline was +50.4%. Patients and physiotherapist observed a liquefaction of secretion and a decrease of coughing by amiloride and a support of physiotherapy.
Authors' conclusions
These results suggest a beneficial clinical effect of regular amiloride inhalation in CF patients.