Background and objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the tolerance of two inhaled hypertonic saline solutions (HS) in patients with cystic fibrosis.
Patients and method: Eighty one cystic fibrosis (CF) patients (44 males; mean age 23.63 years) inhaled 5 ml of 7% inhaled HS solution and, in those patients who did not tolerate HS, we evaluated the tolerance of a 7% HS (at dose of 5 ml) added to 0.1% hyaluronic acid at least twenty-four hours later.
Results: Twenty one (26%) patients did not tolerate the HS solution immediately after its inhalation. Cough was the most common symptom. Patients over 18 years of age showed worse tolerance to HS than patients younger than 18 years of age. Those patients that did not tolerate HS had a worse lung function that the ones that showed good tolerance. Eighty-one percent of patients who did not tolerate the HS alone tolerated well the HS with hyaluronic acid.
Conclusions: CF patients cannot tolerate inhaled HS immediately after nebulisation. Patients over 18 years and those with worse lung function tolerate HS worst. Hyaluronate acid added to 7% HS solution improves the tolerability.
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