Dr KK Aggarwal
Patients with cystic fibrosis
who take ivacaftor have fewer respiratory infections due to major pathogens
compared to those not taking the drug, suggests a new study.
The retrospective cohort study
analyzed data from the United Kingdom CF Registry 2011-2016 and compared
patients (age 6 and older) who took ivacaftor with patients who did not take
the drug, over a period of 3 years.
Early and sustained reduction
in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections (32%) was seen with the use of
ivacaftor, which was also associated with a 15% reduction in Staphylococcus
aureus infections. A decline in Aspergillus infections was also noted. But,
no decline in Burkholderia cepacia complex infections was seen.
For the first time the study
showed that the decline in P. aeruginosa infections occurred due to the
combination of increased clearance of the infection in those already infected
and in reduced acquisition in those who did not have infection.
According to the researchers,
their results mean that some patients taking ivacaftor reduce their need of
antibiotics; they can take fewer antibiotics and still remain clinically
stable.
Ivacaftor is a cystic fibrosis
transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) potentiator and can restore CFTR
function in people with a gating mutation such as G551D. Cystic fibrosis is
caused by mutations in the CFTR gene. By
restoring the gate’s function, ivacaftor improves lung function and quality of
life.
The study is published online
July 19, 2019 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
(Source: American Thoracic
Society)
Dr KK Aggarwal
Padma Shri Awardee
President Elect Confederation of
Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania
(CMAAO)
Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications
President Heart Care Foundation of
India
Past National President
IMA
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