LAUSR

BACKGROUND Persistent tachypnea of infancy (PTI) is the most common interstitial lung disease in young children. As no standardized therapeutic guidelines exist, different pharmaceutics are used to treat PTI. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and bronchodilators being mostly used. This observation assessed the effectiveness of bronchodilators and ICS in children with PTI enrolled in the chILD-EU Register. METHODS Symptomatic children with PTI were observed according to a predetermined stepwise protocol including bronchodilators as the first choice treatment (6 weeks). In patients with incomplete response additionally ICS were given (12 weeks). Signs, symptoms, and pulmonary function were evaluated at three-time points: at baseline, 6 (+/-1) weeks after initiation of bronchodilators, and 12 (+/-1) weeks after bronchodilators/ICS. RESULTS Thirty-one children (median age 44 months, IQR: 15-67) were included. The therapy was associated with a significant reduction of tachypnea (53.3% of patients, p=0.02), exercise intolerance (52.2% of patients, p<0.001), chest retractions (43.8% of patients, p=0.04) and crackles (29.2% of patients, p=0.02). Also, a significant improvement in FEV1 (median z-score -2.21 vs. -0.47, p=0.03), RV (median z-score 5.28 vs 1.07, p=0.007), RV%TLC (median z-score 6.05 vs. 1.48, p=0.01), sRaw (median z-score 6.6 vs. 4.64, p=0.01), R5 (median z-score 1.27 vs. 0.31, p=0.009), and R5-R20 (median 0.58 vs. 0.26 kPa/(l/s), p=0.002) was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS Inhaled bronchodilators and ICS may exert a positive effect on the severity of symptoms and PFT in symptomatic children with PTI. However, a randomized control trial should be conducted to confirm their effectiveness. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.