Aerosolized Hypertonic Xylitol Versus Hypertonic Saline in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Subjects

Summary

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by chronic bacterial colonization and recurrent infection of the airways. Lowering the airway surface liquid (ASL) salt concentration has been shown to increase activity of salt sensitive antimicrobial peptides. Xylitol is a 5-carbon sugar that can lower the ASL salt concentration, thus enhancing innate immunity. In this study, the investigators propose to test the safety and tolerability of aerosolized xylitol used daily for 2 weeks in subjects with cystic fibrosis. In a pilot, 2-week study, 60 subjects with cystic fibrosis with an FEV1(Forced expiratory volume in 1 second ) \>30% predicted will be randomized to receive aerosolized 7% hypertonic saline (5 ml) or 15% xylitol, (5 ml) twice a day for 14 days. The primary outcomes will be safety as assessed by FEV1 change from baseline, adverse events and respiratory symptom score. Outcomes for trend in efficacy include density of colonization of sputum, time to next exacerbation, sputum cytokines and revised CF quality of life questionnaire.

Timeline

Start

2013-01-22

Primary completion

2018-04-09

Completion

2018-04-09

Publications

• Background Durairaj L, Launspach J, Watt JL, Mohamad Z, Kline J, Zabner J. Safety assessment of inhaled xylitol in subjects with cystic fibrosis. J Cyst Fibros. 2007 Jan;6(1):31-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2006.05.002. Epub 2006 Jun 15.
• Background Durairaj L, Neelakantan S, Launspach J, Watt JL, Allaman MM, Kearney WR, Veng-Pedersen P, Zabner J. Bronchoscopic assessment of airway retention time of aerosolized xylitol. Respir Res. 2006 Feb 16;7(1):27. doi: 10.1186/1465-9921-7-27.
• Background Brown CL, Graham SM, Cable BB, Ozer EA, Taft PJ, Zabner J. Xylitol enhances bacterial killing in the rabbit maxillary sinus. Laryngoscope. 2004 Nov;114(11):2021-4. doi: 10.1097/01.mlg.0000147939.90249.47.
• Background Durairaj L, Launspach J, Watt JL, Businga TR, Kline JN, Thorne PS, Zabner J. Safety assessment of inhaled xylitol in mice and healthy volunteers. Respir Res. 2004 Sep 16;5(1):13. doi: 10.1186/1465-9921-5-13.
• Background Zabner J, Seiler MP, Launspach JL, Karp PH, Kearney WR, Look DC, Smith JJ, Welsh MJ. The osmolyte xylitol reduces the salt concentration of airway surface liquid and may enhance bacterial killing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000 Oct 10;97(21):11614-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.97.21.11614.
• Holliday ZM, Launspach JL, Durairaj L, Singh PK, Zabner J, Stoltz DA. Effects of Tham Nasal Alkalinization on Airway Microbial Communities: A Pilot Study in Non-CF and CF Adults. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol. 2022 Sep;131(9):1013-1020. doi: 10.1177/00034894211051814. Epub 2021 Oct 21.
• Hurley MN, Smith S, Forrester DL, Smyth AR. Antibiotic adjuvant therapy for pulmonary infection in cystic fibrosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020 Jul 16;7(7):CD008037. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008037.pub4.
• Singh S, Hornick D, Fedler J, Launspach JL, Teresi ME, Santacroce TR, Cavanaugh JE, Horan R, Nelson G, Starner TD, Zabner J, Durairaj L. Randomized controlled study of aerosolized hypertonic xylitol versus hypertonic saline in hospitalized patients with pulmonary exacerbation of cystic fibrosis. J Cyst Fibros. 2020 Jan;19(1):108-113. doi: 10.1016/j.jcf.2019.06.016. Epub 2019 Jul 18.

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