Infant pulmonary function testing guides therapy in cystic fibrosis lung disease

Abstract

Longitudinal measures of pulmonary function are a fundamental part of care for older children and adults with cystic fibrosis. The dilemma for the clinician caring for infants with cystic fibrosis is how to best objectively assess and treat early lung disease to maintain good lung health for as long as possible. In this report, we present two cases where infant pulmonary function testing revealed an unexpected degree of airway pathology that altered our clinical decision making. Following treatment with intravenous antibiotics, infant pulmonary function tests demonstrated dramatic improvement. These cases demonstrate the utility of infant pulmonary function testing in guiding the management of infants with cystic fibrosis.