WS14.3 Exercise testing as diagnostic marker for the outcome after intravenous antibiotic therapy for patients with cystic fibrosis

Abstract

Objective To assess the success of intravenous antibiotic therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) with pulmonary exacerbations the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) of lung function testing is the routinely used diagnostic method. In this study we aim to investigate maximal exercise testing on bicycle ergometer to evaluate the outcome after antibiotic treatment. Methods We measured the effects of hospital treatmentwith intravenous antibiotics on peak exercise capacity. For this purpose progressive bicycle exercise test was performed at admission and discharge to determine maximum working capacity (Wmax). Oxygen saturation and heart rate as well as O 2 demand have been continuously measured over time during ergometry. FEV1 was determined by lung function testing before and after treatment. Results 190 bicycle ergometries have been performed in patients with CF and pulmonary exacerbation who received hospital treatment from 9/2012 until 9/2014 at the Charite university clinic in Berlin. Wmax improved in 43 of 95 of treated CF patients (33.7%). An increment of the FEV1 could be detected in 75 of 95 subjects (78.9%). Interestingly 8 subjects (8.4%) with improved Wmax showed a decrease in FEV 1 and 10 subjects (10.5%) with a better result in lung function testing after therapy showed a declined Wmax. Conclusion Significant results could be obtained for an improvement of Wmax, O 2 consumption, heart rate and FEV 1 after therapy. These results indicate that exercise testing should be considered as a further diagnostic instrument to evaluate the outcome after antibiotic therapy in patients with CF.