Lower airway inflammation in infants with cystic fibrosis detected by newborn screening

Abstract

Controversy exists over whether the lower airway inflammation that characterizes cystic fibrosis (CF) is initiated primarily by the genetic defect. To determine if inflammation precedes infection, we examined bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cytology, cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α), and free neutrophil elastase activity from 70 CF (aged 1.5-71 months) children detected by newborn screening and 19 (aged 2.0-48 months) controls with chronic stridor. CF subjects were selected and categorized as pristine (13 aged ≤6 months, lacking prior respiratory symptoms and exposure to antibiotics, and without respiratory pathogens on BAL), infe..