Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Implementation of Non-invasive Point of Care Transient Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pediatric Populations with Cystic Fibrosis
05:56

Implementation of Non-invasive Point of Care Transient Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pediatric Populations with Cystic Fibrosis

Published on: August 29, 2025

480

Within-breath changes in respiratory system impedance in children with cystic fibrosis

Emanuela Zannin1, Sylvia Nyilas2,3, Kathryn A Ramsey2

  • 1Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano University, Milan, Italy.

Pediatric Pulmonology
|March 5, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Forced oscillation technique (FOT) in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) reveals peripheral airway obstruction and dynamic compression. These findings are not linked to ventilation issues or structural lung changes in CF patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Respiratory Physiology
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Cystic Fibrosis (CF) significantly impacts lung health in children.
  • Assessing respiratory system impedance is crucial for understanding CF lung disease progression.
  • The Forced Oscillation Technique (FOT) offers a method to evaluate lung mechanics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate within-breath respiratory system impedance using FOT in pediatric CF patients.
  • To correlate FOT-derived parameters with established measures of lung disease severity in CF.
  • To investigate the relationship between FOT findings and underlying lung morphology and ventilation heterogeneity.

Main Methods:

  • Thirty-three children with CF (ages 6-17) underwent FOT at 8 Hz during tidal breathing.
  • Concurrent assessments included multiple breath nitrogen washout (LCI), spirometry (FEV1), body plethysmography (RV/TLC), and MRI.
  • FOT parameters measured: resistance (R8) and reactance (X8) during inspiration, expiration, and whole breath, along with reactance difference (ΔX8).

Main Results:

  • FEV1 showed significant correlations with expiratory resistance (R8EXP) and reactance (X8EXP), as well as ΔX8.
  • RV/TLC correlated positively with R8EXP and ΔX8, and negatively with X8EXP.
  • No significant correlations were found between FOT parameters and LCI or MRI-derived morphological scores.

Conclusions:

  • Within-breath FOT parameters in children with CF suggest peripheral airway obstruction and dynamic airway compression.
  • FOT findings in this cohort did not correlate with ventilation heterogeneity (LCI) or structural lung changes (MRI).
  • FOT may provide insights into specific aspects of CF lung disease not captured by other measures.
Abstract

Keywords:
cystic fibrosisrespiratory system impedancewithin-breath forced oscillation technique

More Related Videos

Breath Collection from Children for Disease Biomarker Discovery06:09

Breath Collection from Children for Disease Biomarker Discovery

Published on: February 14, 2019

7.4K
Rectal Organoid Morphology Analysis ROMA: A Diagnostic Assay in Cystic Fibrosis07:56

Rectal Organoid Morphology Analysis ROMA: A Diagnostic Assay in Cystic Fibrosis

Published on: June 10, 2022

3.3K

Related Concept Videos

Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis01:23

Cystic Fibrosis: Pathogenesis

Cystic fibrosis (CF), an autosomal recessive disorder, significantly affects the function of exocrine glands. This genetically inherited disease is characterized by the production of thick and sticky mucus, which can severely affect various organs and systems in the body.
CF is primarily caused by a genetic mutation in a chromosome 7 gene coding for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. The most common gene mutation leading to CF is the ΔF508 mutation,...
868
Cystic Fibrosis: Management01:24

Cystic Fibrosis: Management

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disorder that predominantly affects individuals of Northern European descent, occurring at a rate of 1 in 3500. It is caused by a genetic mutation in a gene on chromosome 7, most commonly the ΔF508 mutation, that codes for the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. This results in thicker mucus secretions and obstruction pathologies in multiple organs, including the lungs and sinuses.
Sinus disease and chronic...
520
Breathing01:05

Breathing

The process of breathing, inhaling and exhaling, involves the coordinated movement of the chest wall, the lungs, and the muscles that move them. Two muscle groups with important roles in breathing are the diaphragm, located directly below the lungs, and the intercostal muscles, which lie between the ribs. When the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity and creating more room for the lungs to expand. When the intercostal muscles contract, the ribs...
64.5K
Impedance Combination01:21

Impedance Combination

Consider a string of christmas lights, each bulb symbolizing an impedance element. In this series configuration, the flow of electric current remains uniform across every component. This behavior aligns with Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL), which asserts that the total impedance in such a setup equals the sum of individual impedances—akin to resistors in series. It follows that the voltage from the power source is distributed proportionally among these components, adhering to the voltage...
749
Impedances and Admittance01:23

Impedances and Admittance

In the realm of AC circuits, passive circuit elements like resistors, inductors, and capacitors take on a different character when characterized by phasor voltage and current. Their behavior is expressed through impedance, a vital concept in AC circuit analysis.
Impedance is a measure of resistance to sinusoidal current flow in an AC circuit. Unlike their behavior in DC circuits, where inductors appear as short circuits and capacitors as open circuits, the behavior of these components in AC...
1.9K
Anatomy of Respiratory System II: Lower Respiratory Tract01:31

Anatomy of Respiratory System II: Lower Respiratory Tract

The lower respiratory tract is anatomically composed of several vital structures, including the larynx, trachea, bronchial tree, alveoli, lungs, and pleurae. Each component has a specific function, and all are intricately connected to ensure efficient respiration.
The Larynx
It is located between the pharynx and the trachea, acts as a passageway for air, and hosts several critical structures, such as the epiglottis, vocal cords, and glottis. The epiglottis acts as a gateway, guiding food to the...
3.5K