Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M E Hodson.
The diagnosis and treatment of pneumothorax in patients with complex cystic lung disease may be difficult when relying on plain chest radiography alone. We report four cases in which management was greatly facilitated by the use of CT scanning of the chest.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: There are well-documented systemic haemodynamic changes associated with chronic liver disease. Patients with cystic fibrosis may develop chronic liver disease, but it is not known whether these systemic haemodynamic changes develop and, if they do, whether they are influenced by the associated chronic lung disease. We therefore undertook a study to document the circulatory status of cystic fibrosis patients with and without chronic liver disease. METHODS: Fifty-six subjects with cystic fibrosis were studied. Systemic haemodynamic and pulmonary parameters, in sub-groups both with (LD) and without (NLD) liver disease, were measured at rest and during measured exertion. Cystic fibrosis-related chronic liver disease was diagnosed using previously validated ultrasound criteria. Patients underwent assessment at rest and in the fourth minute of seated bicycle exercise at 25W. Heart rate (ECG), blood pressure (semiautomated sphygmomanometer), aortic blood velocity (pulsed Doppler suprasternal probe), arterial oxygen saturation (pulse oximeter) and respiratory variables (pneumotachometer with expired gas analysis by an automatic system) were measured. RESULTS: A complete data set was available for 45 patients (22 LD) at rest and 40 patients (19 LD) on exercise. The patients were well matched for age, sex, height, weight, and pulmonary function. Patients with chronic liver disease had a hyperkinetic circulation while ventilatory variables before and during exercise were similar for the two groups. There was evidence that the circulatory changes were exacerbated by both deteriorating hepatic and pulmonary function. CONCLUSIONS: Cystic fibrosis patients with chronic liver disease have a hyperdynamic circulation similar to that documented in other forms of chronic liver disease. These circulatory changes are exacerbated by deteriorating hepatic and pulmonary function.
Cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic disorder, is characterized by chronic pulmonary infection/inflammation which leads to respiratory failure. The presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) has previously been observed in the sera of patients with CF. In view of the known relationship of ANCA with primary vasculitis and of their putative pathogenetic role in these disorders, we studied the presence, specificity and isotype of ANCA and their clinical associations in 66 adult CF patients. None of the 66 CF samples had autoantibodies to the major ANCA antigens, proteinase 3 or myeloperoxidase. However, 60/66 (91%) CF samples contained IgG, and 55/66 (83%) IgA, autoantibodies to bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI), a recently-characterized ANCA specificity. All the IgA anti-BPI-positive samples were also IgG anti-BPI-positive. The autoantibody specificity was confirmed by inhibition assay and immunoblotting of CF sera against a neutrophil granule preparation. Furthermore, in this cross-sectional study, anti-BPI levels were inversely correlated with the observed reductions in FEV1 and FVC (IgA anti-BPI & FEV1: r = -0.508, p < 0.0001), and both IgG and IgA anti-BPI levels were higher in CF patients with secondary vasculitis (n = 6) than in those without (p < 0.05). ANCA with specificity for BPI were present in the majority of CF sera in this study and autoimmune processes may be associated with the development of pulmonary injury in CF.
Inhalation of aerosols contaminated with gram-negative bacteria generated from home-use nebulizers used by cystic fibrosis (CF) patients may be a primary route for bacterial colonization of the lung. Burkholderia cepacia was isolated from 3 of [corrected] 35 home-use nebulizers, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was isolated from 4 of 35 home-use nebulizers. Sputum cultures for two patients whose nebulizers were contaminated with B. cepacia did not yield the organism. However, DNA macrorestriction analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis confirmed that one of two strains of B. cepacia recovered from the nebulizer of a third patient was also present in the sputum of that patient. Although Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from 34 patients, none of the nebulizers were positive for the organism. Sixty-nine percent of nebulizers were contaminated, and up to 16 different environmental colistin-resistant, gram-negative species were identified. The heaviest contamination was found beneath the chamber atomizer. A questionnaire survey showed that the majority of patients (28 of 34) were receiving nebulized colistin and/or gentamicin. Patients who followed recommended instructions for good nebulizer hygienic practice and paid particular attention to drying had minimal or no contamination of their nebulizers.
BACKGROUND: Viscoelastic secretions in cystic fibrosis cause impaired mucus clearance and persistence of bacteria within the lung. The abnormal rheology is partly due to the presence of high molecular weight deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Recombinant human DNase I (rhDNase) has been shown to depolymerise DNA and thereby reduce the in vitro viscoelasticity of sputum in patients with cystic fibrosis. A phase II double blind placebo controlled study showed that rhDNase improved pulmonary function in patients with cystic fibrosis. The object of the present study was to evaluate the in vivo effects of rhDNase on sputum rheology and to determine whether these were correlated with changes in pulmonary function. METHODS: Patients were randomised to receive either placebo or rhDNase 2.5 mg twice daily for 10 days. Sputum samples were collected in sterile containers during screening and during treatment with the study drug. Pulmonary function and rheological analysis were the primary outcomes evaluated. Other parameters assessed were quantitative sputum bacteriology, sputum DNA concentration, and change in molecular mass of DNA polymers. RESULTS: The viscoelasticity of the sputum in untreated patients with cystic fibrosis was high and treatment with rhDNase reduced all the rheological parameters measured: dynamic storage modulus (a measure of elasticity), dynamic loss modulus (a measure of viscosity), and log complex modulus (a measure of mucus rigidity). The calculated cough clearance index was also improved following treatment with rhDNase. These rheological parameters showed a correlation with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) which was improved by a mean (SE) of 13.3 (5.6)% on day 10 of treatment with rhDNase compared with a change of 0.2 (3.1)% in the placebo group. There was no change in bacterial colony counts or sputum DNA concentrations following treatment with rhDNase, but a small decrease in high molecular weight DNA was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cystic fibrosis treated with rhDNase show an improvement in rheological properties and pulmonary function, one of the mechanisms being a reduction in the proportion of high molecular weight DNA.
BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis is an inherited condition with a high mortality and morbidity. The aims of this study were to assess quality of life in a population of adults with cystic fibrosis, to compare quality of life with published scores from a healthy population and other patient groups, and to examine the relation between quality of life and other measured clinical variables. METHODS: Patients over 16 years of age attending an adult cystic fibrosis outpatient clinic were surveyed at a time when they were clinically stable. A self-complete questionnaire was administered which comprised the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) together with six additional questions related to cystic fibrosis. RESULTS: Completed questionnaires were obtained from 240 subjects (100 women) of median age 26 years (range 16-56). Mean (SD) forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was 49 (26)% predicted, forced vital capacity (FVC) was 68 (26)% predicted, and the FEV1:FVC ratio was 59 (16)%. In this cross sectional study different patterns of perceived quality of life were seen in men and women. In part 1 of the NHP there was an age related trend compared with norms in men, with more distress/disability in the dimensions of emotion, sleep, and social isolation in the older age groups. In women there was no age related trend in the degree of distress/disability compared with norms. The mean score was different from norms in the dimensions of pain, emotion and sleep. For the patients with cystic fibrosis as a whole the scores in part 1 were comparable with published scores of patients with minor non-acute conditions. Scores in part 2 of the NHP for men were different from norms in six of the seven areas of daily living (all except home life). For women the scores were different from norms in the areas of looking after the home, social life, hobbies, and holidays. There were correlations between several of the quality of life dimensions and other measured variables such as FEV1, breathlessness score, and the time spent on home treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Men and women with cystic fibrosis have different patterns of perceived quality of life, and there is an age related trend of perceived quality of life in men in some dimensions. Quality of life scores in this group, as assessed by the NHP, are similar to those reported in subjects with minor non-acute conditions.
In cystic fibrosis (CF), neutrophil-dominated airway inflammation results in high levels of neutrophil elastase (NE). Some of these proteases are sequestered by the large amounts of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) present in purulent sputum. Recombinant human deoxyribonuclease (rhDNase), a new treatment in CF, depolymerizes DNA. Our concerns were that this might release proteases bound to DNA, which could be potentially harmful. The in vitro and in vivo effects of rhDNase on NE and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were evaluated. The acute effects of rhDNase were evaluated in CF patients during the first 6 days of treatment. Medium-term effects were evaluated in stable CF patients observed in rhDNase over 6 months. Sputum samples were collected at regular intervals and NE activity was measured by a fluorimetric assay and IL-8 with a radioimmunoassay. In vitro addition of rhDNase resulted in a twofold increase in protease activity and this was reflected in an acute transient rise on initiation of treatment with rhDNase. Medium-term treatment was associated with a decline in NE activity and IL-8. These in vivo results are encouraging, since the increase in protease activity was transient and the trend over 6 months was a reduction in both inflammatory markers.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the commonest inherited disease of the Caucasian population, with a high morbidity and mortality from pulmonary disease. The high viscoelasticity of CF sputum is due, in part, to the high deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) content. Recombinant human deoxyribonuclease I (rhDNase) has been developed and in vitro studies have shown that it reduces the viscoelasticity of CF sputum. This article reviews the in vivo clinical studies conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of rhDNase in the treatment of pulmonary disease in CF. Initial Phase I studies showed preliminary safety and some evidence of clinical benefit. Subsequently, two Phase II studies were conducted in the US and UK during which patients received rhDNase for 10 days. A Phase III study of 24 weeks duration involving 968 patients in 51 centres in North America is also reported in detail. Longer term open-label studies, the results of intermittent administration, administration to severely ill patients and the use of different delivery systems are reviewed. The Phase II study reported improvements in pulmonary function and had a good safety profile. The Phase III study showed improvement in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of 5.8 and 5.6% in patients treated once and twice daily, respectively. The risk of developing an exacerbation was reduced by 28% with once daily treatment and 37% with twice daily treatment compared to placebo. The drug was safe and there was some improvement in quality of life data. Recombinant human deoxyribonuclease is a new therapy for pulmonary disease in cystic fibrosis which has been shown to benefit patients when used in conjunction with conventional therapy.
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Advances in the management of the pulmonary complications of cystic fibrosis may result in an increasing prevalence of patients with chronic liver disease which may, therefore, become more important in the long-term management of cystic fibrosis patients. However, no simple and reliable test is available for the diagnosis of liver disease in cystic fibrosis. In particular percutaneous liver biopsy is highly inaccurate and potentially dangerous. Imaging techniques, including real-time ultrasound scanning, have been used to evaluate the hepato-biliary system in cystic fibrosis and may represent the best available techniques for documenting hepatic involvement. The purposes of this study were to construct an ultrasound scoring system using three cardinal features of hepatic ultrasound in cystic fibrosis: coarseness of the parenchyma, nodularity of the liver edge and increased periportal echogenicity, to enable the accurate, early diagnosis of liver involvement in cystic fibrosis. The scoring system was validated by correlating the results against ultrasound markers of portal hypertension, clinical and haematological data. The scoring system proved to be reproducible and to correlate well with the markers of hepatic disease detailed above. The results also suggest that the scoring system may allow the identification of patients with pre-cirrhotic chronic liver disease and so may prove of value in selecting a sub-group of patients more likely to respond to therapy.
The majority of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have chronic lung infection with a variety of organisms. It is accepted clinical practice to treat acute exacerbations of infection with appropriate oral or intravenous antibiotics. The aim of this paper is to review the use of maintenance antibiotics for these patients with chronic pulmonary infection. There is clinical trial evidence to support the use of maintenance treatment for patients chronically infected with Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. No such evidence is available in the case of Haemophilus influenzae or Burkholderia cepacia. Chronic infection with Staphylococcus aureus is commonly treated with maintenance oral flucloxacillin and chronic infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa either with 3-monthly intravenous antibiotics or long-term aerosol antibiotics. Further clinical trials need to be performed on many aspects of maintenance treatment for CF patients with chronic pulmonary infection.
Recombinant human DNase I (rhDNase) has been shown to improve pulmonary function in patients treated for up to 6 months. A cohort of 52 cystic fibrosis patients with a FVC > 40% predicted were enrolled into an open label study in order to evaluate longer-term effects of rhDNase. They received 2.5 mg rhDNase twice daily for 6 months followed by a 2-week wash-out period, and for the subsequent 18 months were treated with rhDNase once daily. Twenty-six male and 26 female patients with a mean FVC of 2.941 and FEV1 of 1.471 were recruited. Thirteen patients did not complete the study; there were seven deaths, three patients withdrew consent and three patients were lost to follow-up. Improvement in pulmonary function was seen following treatment and changes were evaluated as mean percent change from baseline. The maximum improvement occurred in the first month followed by a plateau at a lower level of improvement. The mean improvement in FEV1 over the first month was 13.3% (range 12-14.1%), followed by a plateau at around 7.1% (range 4.6-11.0%) for the subsequent 23 months. Mean FVC was improved by 12.03% (range 9.0-14.3%) over the first month and subsequently 4.2% (range - 2.2-10.2%). The effects on pulmonary function were similar for both treatment doses of rhDNase. There was also a steady improvement in weight from a mean of 54.2 kg to 55.7 kg at the end of the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
We report the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in nine cystic fibrosis (CF) subjects receiving cationic liposome complexed with a complementary DNA encoding the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), and six CF subjects receiving only liposome to the nasal epithelium. No adverse clinical effects were seen and nasal biopsies showed no histological or immuno-histological changes. A partial restoration of the deficit between CF and non-CF subjects of 20% was seen for the response to low Cl- perfusion following CFTR cDNA administration. This was maximal around day three and had reverted to pretreatment values by day seven. In some cases the response to low Cl- was within the range for non-CF subjects. Plasmid DNA and transgene-derived RNA were detected in the majority of treated subjects. Although these data are encouraging, it is likely that transfection efficiency and the duration of expression will need to be increased for therapeutic benefit.
Home treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis has many attractions and is becoming increasingly popular. The investigators have studied the use, results and costs of the first year of operation of a home-care intravenous antibiotic service using the 'Intermate' infusion device in a prospective study using questionnaires, spirometric and weight measurements. Ninety-three patients received 166 courses of intravenous antibiotics in full or in part at home during 1991. The average length of treatment was 12.5 days and on average 70% of the treatment was given at home. The mean percentage predicted FEV1 and FVC improved after treatment and the mean improvement was not significantly different to that produced by hospital treatment. Breathlessness, sputum volume, appetite, ability to sleep, mood, energy and overall well-being, as assessed by questionnaire, showed significant improvements after home treatment. The median time spent mixing and administering drugs was 10-19 hours and visiting the hospital was 7-12 hours. The median number of days of lost income to patients or their carers was 0 days. The majority of the patients were extremely satisfied with the treatment and supervision that they received. Using the home care service, 1442 inpatient days were saved. The investigators conclude that home care using 'Intermates' improves a patient's lung function and quality of life.
BACKGROUND: A phase II multicentre double blind placebo controlled study in 1993 showed that short term treatment (10 days) with recombinant human DNase I (rhDNase) was safe and improved pulmonary function in patients with cystic fibrosis with stable stage lung disease. A six month open label treatment study was conducted in some of the patients who participated in the short term study to assess the medium term effects of rhDNase. METHODS: Patients who completed the phase II study and were stable for 14 days prior to treatment were eligible. They were treated with rhDNase 2.5 mg twice daily for six months and reviewed at regular intervals to assess safety and efficacy. RESULTS: Fifty nine patients (31M,28F) of age range 16-55 years were recruited. Mean baseline values for forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were 41.5% and 72.4% of predicted, respectively. The mean increase in FEV1 over the first month of treatment was 13.1% (range 12-14.1%) and then stabilised at 6.2% (4.6-7.8%) for the subsequent five months. FVC was similarly improved. Administration of rhDNase improved the severity of dyspnoea, cystic fibrosis related symptoms, and the modified Taussig/NIH score (not statistically significant). Fifty seven of the 59 patients completed the study; two died from progression of their pulmonary disease unrelated to treatment with rhDNase. The adverse events and intercurrent illnesses were no different from those expected in a cystic fibrosis population. Pharyngitis was the only possible drug related adverse event which occurred at least once in 14% of patients during the six month period. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of rhDNase was safe, well tolerated, and improved pulmonary function in patients with cystic fibrosis. When rhDNase was stopped at day 169 there was a deterioration in pulmonary function and dyspnoea score.
Clinical data are now available on the use of recombinant human DNase (rhDNase) in the treatment of CF patients with mild, moderate and severe pulmonary disease. Phase I studies were conducted and indicated the initial safety of rhDNase in humans. In the US phase II study, 181 patients with FVC > or = 40% were randomly allocated to receive rhDNase 0.6, 2.5, 10 mg, or placebo twice daily for 10 days. All three doses of rhDNase significantly improved FEV1 10-14% and FVC 10-12% compared to placebo. There was no significant increase in serious intercurrent events but a slight increase in pharyngitis and voice alteration. A phase II study including 71 patients was carried out in the UK. FEV1 improved by 13% from baseline compared to placebo. There was an improvement in CF-related symptoms and no increase in serious adverse events. The phase III double-blind placebo-controlled study included 968 patients with FVC > or = 40% predicted. These patients were randomized to 2.5 mg rhDNase, once or twice daily, or placebo for 24 weeks. Compared to placebo, rhDNase-treated patients had a relative risk of protocol-defined respiratory tract infection reduced by 22 and 34% and improved FEV1 compared to baseline by 5.8% (p < 0.001) and 5.6% (p < 0.001), respectively, compared to placebo. A double-blind, short-term, placebo-controlled study in severely ill patients, FVC < 40% predicted, showed the drug to be safe but there was no significant improvement in lung function. After a further 6-month open-label treatment, patients showed improvement in FEV1 and FVC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The major causes of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) are the obstruction and damaged airways that result from the accumulation of viscid and infected secretions. Dornase alfa, also called recombinant human DNase I (rhDNase), cleaves extracellular DNA, which is present in inordinately high concentrations in purulent CF airway secretions. Dornase alfa has been found to increase the pourability and reduce the viscoelasticity of CF sputum in vitro and, in an animal model, to increase its mucociliary transportability. Short-term (10-day) Phase I and II clinical trials showed dornase alfa to be safe and effective in improving pulmonary function in clinically stable CF patients with mild to moderate pulmonary disease (FVC > or = 40% of predicted value). A long-term (24-week) Phase IIB clinical trial demonstrated the importance of administering dornase alfa daily to maintain its efficacy. A large-scale, long-term, Phase III clinical trial, consisting of a 24-week double-blind period and a 24-week open-label extension, confirmed these findings and further demonstrated that dornase alfa reduces the incidence of respiratory tract infectious exacerbations requiring parenteral antibiotic therapy. Dornase alfa also decreased the rate of hospitalizations, the number of days missed from work or school, and the frequency of CF-related symptoms. Adverse events were limited to upper airway irritation (i.e., voice alteration, laryngitis, pharyngitis), rash, chest pain, and conjunctivitis. These manifestations generally were mild and transient, and they did not limit the use of dornase alfa. A small proportion (2 to 4%) of patients developed serum antibodies to dornase alfa, but no patient developed anaphylaxis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)