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Biomedical subjects

H Selvadurai

Publications and source records attributed to H Selvadurai.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Does carbon dioxide retention during exercise predict a more rapid decline in FEV1 in cystic fibrosis?

BACKGROUND: Carbon dioxide (CO2) retention during exercise is uncommon in mild to moderate lung disease in cystic fibrosis (CF). The ability to deal with increased CO2 is dependent on the degree of airflow limitation and inherent CO2 sensitivity. CO2 retention (CO2R) can be defined as a rise in P(ET)CO2 tension of > or =5 mm Hg with exercise together with a failure to reduce P(ET)CO2 tension after peak work by at least 3 mm Hg by the termination of exercise. AIM: To ascertain if carbon dioxide retention during exercise is associated with more rapid decline in lung function. METHODS: Annual spirometric and exercise data from 58 children aged 11-15 years, with moderate CF lung disease between 1996 and 2002 were analysed. RESULTS: The mean FEV1 at baseline for the two groups was similar; the CO2R group (n = 15) was 62% and the non-CO2 retention group (CO2NR) was 64% (n = 43). The decline in FEV1 after 12 months was -3.2% (SD 1.1) in the CO2R group and -2.3% (SD 0.9) in the CO2NR group. The decline after 24 months was -6.3% (SD 1.3) and -1.8% (SD 1.1) respectively. After 36 months, the decline in FEV1 was -5.3% (SD 1.2) and -2.6% (SD 1.1) respectively. The overall decline in lung function was 14.8% (SD 2.1) in the CO2R group and 6.7% (SD 1.8) in the CO2NR group. Using the primary outcome measure as a decline in FEV(1) of >9%, final multivariate analysis showed that the relative risks for this model were (95% CIs in parentheses): DeltaP(ET)CO2 11.61 (3.41 to 24.12), peak VO2 1.23 (1.10 to 1.43), and initial FEV(1) 1.14 (1.02 to 1.28). CONCLUSION: Results show that the inability to defend carbon dioxide during exercise is associated with a more rapid decline in lung function.

Adolescent↗

Outcome of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in paediatric neuromuscular disease.

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) has a beneficial effect on nocturnal hypoventilation and hospitalisation rates in adults with static or slowly progressive neuromuscular disease and respiratory failure. Its role in children affected with similar disease processes, however, remains unclear. AIMS: To investigate the impact of NPPV on hospitalisations and sleep related respiratory parameters in children with neuromuscular disease. METHODS: Fifteen children (mean age 11.7, range 3.4-17.8 years) diagnosed with neuromuscular disease who had been started on nocturnal NPPV and had at least one year of follow up since the initiation of such therapy were studied. Patients served as their own controls and comparison was made of the years preceding and following the initiation of NPPV. RESULTS: Children spent 85% fewer days in hospital (mean pre-NPPV 48.0 days, mean post-NPPV 7.0 days) and 68% less days in intensive care after initiation of NPPV (mean pre-NPPV 12.0 days, mean post-NPPV 3.9 days). Sleep study parameters including number of desaturations, apnoea-hypopnoea index and transcutaneous pCO2 levels improved after initiation of NPPV. CONCLUSIONS: NPPV can decrease hospitalisations for children with neuromuscular disease and improves sleep related respiratory parameters. A prospective study is now needed to further delineate the role of NPPV in this population of children.

Adolescent↗

Antileukotriene drugs in childhood asthma: what is their place in therapy?

Leukotriene antagonists are a new class of anti-inflammatory drugs which have shown clinical efficacy in the management of asthma. However, their role in paediatric asthma is still unclear. In essence, while there are theoretical reasons as to why leukotriene antagonists would be of use in the management of childhood asthma, there is little clinical data on their use in this patient group. Studies with leukotriene antagonists to date have been performed in children with chronic 'undertreated' asthma which, under current recommendations, should be treated with inhaled corticosteroids. Furthermore, the magnitude of effect of leukotriene antagonists on lung function (forced expiratory volume in one second of less than 5% better than placebo) and daily symptoms (0.23 puffs per day of B2 agonist less than placebo), while reaching statistical significance, is unlikely to be of clinical significance in children with chronic undertreated asthma. There is, however, good evidence for leukotriene antagonist use in exercise induced asthma in children. We conclude that although leukotriene antagonists may play an important role in the management of childhood asthma in the future, particularly as corticosteroid sparing agents and in exercise induced asthma, clinical data in paediatric asthma is poor.

Asthma↗