Biomarkers of early relapse of pulmonary exacerbation in cystic fibrosis adult patients

The number of pulmonary exacerbations (PE) is predictive of mortality in cystic fibrosis, but at the moment, the impact of physiological and biological alteration during PE on the time of next exacerbation is not well known. An observational, prospective, single center study of hospitalized PE was conducted in Milan, Italy between 2009 and 2010. A total of 24 consecutive patients were enrolled (15 men; median 34 age IQR [28-37]). Two study groups were defined: (Group 1) early exacerbators, new hospitalization before 182days, and (Group 2) late exacerbators, new hospitalization after 182 days. No differences in co-morbidities (diabetes, pancreatic insufficiency and liver disease) and basal pulmonary function tests were found between the two groups. Serum levels of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and C-reactive protein (CRP) at the moment of hospitalization and serum levels of white blood cells (WBC), IL-6 and IL-8 after 7 days of therapy distinguished early and late exacerbators. Figure1 Download figureOpen in new tabDownload powerpoint Worsening of Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second correlated with WBC, and CRP at the moment of hospitalization (p=0.031; p=0.010 respectively). Serum biomarkers correlate with severity of respiratory functional impairment at the moment of the diagnosis and could distinguish early and late relapse of PE in adult cystic fibrosis patients.