Pinelopi Anagnostopoulou1,2, Sophie Yammine1, Anne Schmidt1,3, Insa Korten1, Elisabeth Kieninger1,3, Ines Mack1,3, Daniel Trachsel3, Gaudenz Hafen4, Alexander Moeller5, Carmen Casaulta1, Philipp Latzin1,3. 1. Division of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. 2. 3rd Pediatric Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. 3. University Children's Hospital Basel, UKBB, Basel, Switzerland. 4. Department of Pediatrics, Respiratory Unit, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, Switzerland. 5. University Children's Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lung clearance index (LCI), a marker of ventilation inhomogeneity, is elevated early in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, in infants with CF, LCI values are found to be normal, although structural lung abnormalities are often detectable. We hypothesized that this discrepancy is due to inadequate algorithms of the available software package. AIM: Our aim was to challenge the validity of these software algorithms. METHODS: We compared multiple breath washout (MBW) results of current software algorithms (automatic modus) to refined algorithms (manual modus) in 17 asymptomatic infants with CF, and 24 matched healthy term-born infants. The main difference between these two analysis methods lies in the calculation of the molar mass differences that the system uses to define the completion of the measurement. RESULTS: In infants with CF the refined manual modus revealed clearly elevated LCI above 9 in 8 out of 35 measurements (23%), all showing LCI values below 8.3 using the automatic modus (paired t-test comparing the means, P < 0.001). Healthy infants showed normal LCI values using both analysis methods (n = 47, paired t-test, P = 0.79). The most relevant reason for false normal LCI values in infants with CF using the automatic modus was the incorrect recognition of the end-of-test too early during the washout. CONCLUSION: We recommend the use of the manual modus for the analysis of MBW outcomes in infants in order to obtain more accurate results. This will allow appropriate use of infant lung function results for clinical and scientific purposes.
BACKGROUND: Lung clearance index (LCI), a marker of ventilation inhomogeneity, is elevated early in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, in infants with CF, LCI values are found to be normal, although structural lung abnormalities are often detectable. We hypothesized that this discrepancy is due to inadequate algorithms of the available software package. AIM: Our aim was to challenge the validity of these software algorithms. METHODS: We compared multiple breath washout (MBW) results of current software algorithms (automatic modus) to refined algorithms (manual modus) in 17 asymptomatic infants with CF, and 24 matched healthy term-born infants. The main difference between these two analysis methods lies in the calculation of the molar mass differences that the system uses to define the completion of the measurement. RESULTS: In infants with CF the refined manual modus revealed clearly elevated LCI above 9 in 8 out of 35 measurements (23%), all showing LCI values below 8.3 using the automatic modus (paired t-test comparing the means, P < 0.001). Healthy infants showed normal LCI values using both analysis methods (n = 47, paired t-test, P = 0.79). The most relevant reason for false normal LCI values in infants with CF using the automatic modus was the incorrect recognition of the end-of-test too early during the washout. CONCLUSION: We recommend the use of the manual modus for the analysis of MBW outcomes in infants in order to obtain more accurate results. This will allow appropriate use of infant lung function results for clinical and scientific purposes.
Authors: Jonathan Grigg; Jürg Barben; Kajsa Bohlin; Mark L Everard; Graham Hall; Mariëlle Pijnenburg; Kostas N Priftis; Franca Rusconi; Fabio Midulla Journal: ERJ Open Res Date: 2016-04-29