CHANGES IN SPIROMETRY DURING CONSECUTIVE ADMISSIONS FOR INFECTIVE PULMONARY EXACERBATIONS IN ADOLESCENT AND ADULT CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

Changes in spirometry during consecutive admissions for treatment of pulmonary infective exacerbations were studied in 45 patients (24 males, 21 females) with cystic fibrosis (CF) who had required five or more such admissions. Over the overall study period there was a mean (sd) decline in FEV, of −112.1 (188.0) ml yr−1 (P < 0001) and in FVC of − 47.9 (82.4) ml yr−1 (P < 0001). FEV1 and FVC increased during each admission with treatment; however, the magnitude of this change became less over consecutive admissions by a mean value of −33.3 ml (45.0) (P<0.001) for FEV1, and −260 (72.2) ml (P<005) for FVC. In the majority of patients that died or underwent transplantation, FEV, at the time of the last admission did not rise above 800 ml despite full treatment. © 1992, Baillière Tindall All rights reserved. All rights reserved.