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Effect of moisture tent on the ion content of nasal fluid in patients with cystic fibrosis
Author(s) -
Roomans Godfried Maarten,
Kozlova Inna,
Hjelte Lena
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.1120.14
Subject(s) - cystic fibrosis , water content , chemistry , mucus , moisture , medicine , zoology , biology , ecology , geotechnical engineering , engineering , organic chemistry
Sleeping in a moisture tent was used as treatment for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, in order to hydrate the viscous airway mucus. The efficiency of this method has been questioned. The effect of the procedure on the ion content of nasal airway surface liquid (ASL) in CF‐patients and healthy controls was studied. CF‐patients and controls spent a night (8h) in a moisture tent; samples of nasal ASL were taken before and after the stay in the tent, and then at each hour during 4h. Samples of nasal ASL were collected in Sephadex beads that were analyzed by X‐ray microanalysis. The ion concentrations in nasal ASL of CF patients (before entering the tent) were significantly higher than the levels in controls. During the stay in the tent, the ion content decreased markedly, both in CF‐patients and controls. After leaving the tent the ion levels in the nasal ASL increased to values higher than before entering the tent. The salt content of ASL is relevant in CF, since ASL contains anti‐bacterial proteins sensitive to the salt concentration. The decrease in ion content, caused by spending time in a moisture tent may be too short‐lived to have a significant effect. Supported by the Swedish Heart‐Lung Foundation.