Inflammation contributes to lung damage. In the long term this is the most common reason for early death in cystic fibrosis. In high doses, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, particularly ibuprofen, may work against inflammation, but in low doses there is some evidence that they may cause inflammation. The use of high doses has also raised concerns about the potential for unwanted effects, which has limited the use of these drugs in cystic fibrosis. We looked for trials comparing oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to placebo, at any dose for at least two months in people with cystic fibrosis.This updated review includes twice as many participants as the original review. We found evidence showing that high-dose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, most notably ibuprofen, can slow the progression of lung damage in people with cystic fibrosis, especially in younger people. There are limited long-term safety data; however, there are enough data to recommend that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs be temporarily stopped when patients are receiving intravenous aminoglycosides or other agents toxic to the kidneys.
The use of oral drug therapy with agents other than steroids to reduce lung inflammation and deterioration in lung function in people with cystic fibrosis
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'Your views on The Cochrane Library: survey'
Published Online:
May 11, 2011
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