Hypertonic Saline vs. Isotonic Saline in Young Children with Cystic Fibrosis

Inhaled hypertonic saline has outperformed inhaled isotonic saline in reducing the incidence of pulmonary exacerbations in adults and older children who have cystic fibrosis (CF). Now, researchers have randomized 321 young children with CF (age range, 4–60 months) to receive either 7% hypertonic saline or 0.9% isotonic saline, inhaled twice daily after a dose of albuterol or levalbuterol, for 48 weeks.

The incidence of pulmonary exacerbations (defined as treatment for pulmonary signs or symptoms with an inhaled or intravenous antibiotic) was 2.3 events per person-year in both groups. During the documented pulmonary exacerbations, neither the number of antibiotics used nor the duration of their use differed significantly between the hypertonic and isotonic groups. Outcomes for the two treatment groups were also similar among the 73 children who participated in a pulmonary-function substudy. The trial raised no noteworthy safety concerns.