[Successive courses of intensive therapy in cystic fibrosis (author's transl)]

Twenty-four patients aged from 3 to 30 years and suffering from advanced cystic fibrosis received several courses of intensive antibiotic therapy combined with prolonged respiratory physiotherapy with postural drainage. Antibiotics included carbenicillin 500 mg/kg/day and aminoglycosides in high dosage (6 mg/kg/day). These treatments were administered to prevent aggravation of chronic bronchitis and to suppress acute exacerbations. Tolerance was satisfactory, and all patients felt better, at least during the first courses. Improvement was also observed in the main respiratory function parameters. In a total of 95 courses only two side-effects (severe dizziness and giant urticaria) were recorded. Intensive courses of combined antibiotic therapy associated with physiotherapy constitute a new way of treating severe, progressive cystic fibrosis. The patients are made comfortable, and their survival time is increased by several years.