Bronchial Inflammation of Small Airways in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis

In the planned study, 60 patients with mild cystic fibrosis (CF) with and without the involvement of small airways (small airway disease - SAD) are to be compared with a historical control group matched in age and gender. During the first study visit subjects are asked to perform a pulmonary function test (spirometry, body plethysmography with helium, determination of "Trapped Air") and exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) and exhaled carbon monoxide (eCO) measurements will be done in exhaled air. In addition, a blood sample is drawn to describe inflammatory status. Sputum is induced as well. During the second study visit, a non-specific bronchial provocation test(methacholine PD20 FEV1) is performed. The aim of the study is to get a characterization of the bronchial and systemic inflammation (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, TNF-α, NFKB, and recognition structures like TLR2 and TLR4) in CF patients with and without the involvement of the small airways, which may point to new treatment strategies.