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Bronchodilation in infants with malacia or recurrent wheeze
W Hofhuis1, E C van der Wiel, H A W M Tiddens
1Department of Paediatrics, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands. hofhuis@alkg.azr.nl
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|February 25, 2003
Summary
Inhaled beta(2) agonists significantly reduced lung function in infants with wheeze. However, infants with airway malacia did not experience a worse outcome compared to those with recurrent wheeze.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Infant Lung Function
Background:
- Effectiveness of bronchodilators in infants with wheezing is debated.
- Airway malacia may influence response to bronchodilator therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- Assess inhaled beta(2) agonist effects on infant lung function.
- Compare bronchodilator impact in infants with malacia versus recurrent wheeze.
- Investigate if airway malacia exacerbates negative effects on forced expiratory flow (V'(maxFRC)).
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of lung function data from 27 infants (8 malacia, 19 wheeze).
- Measurement of forced expiratory flow (V'(maxFRC)) in Z scores before and after beta(2) agonist inhalation.
- Comparison of V'(maxFRC) changes between malacia and wheeze groups.
Main Results:
- Both groups had below-reference baseline V'(maxFRC).
- Inhaled beta(2) agonists significantly reduced mean V'(maxFRC) in the wheeze group (-0.33 Z score).
- No significant worsening of V'(maxFRC) was observed in the malacia group (-0.10 Z score) compared to the wheeze group.
Conclusions:
- Inhaled beta(2) agonists significantly decrease lung function in infants experiencing wheeze.
- Infants with airway malacia do not show a greater negative response to beta(2) agonists than those with recurrent wheeze.