Washington, Oct 17 : A new study has revealed that high-dose ibuprofen can slow down the rate at which the lung function of a child with cystic fibrosis (CF) declines.

The new study is based on data from a large Canadian multi-centre study, which doubled the number of participants that the researchers could analyse, and in particular, added a large number of children.

“The results now show that high-dose ibuprofen may slow down the rate at which the lung function of a child with CF deteriorates. By slowing the rate of deterioration, high-dose ibuprofen can contribute to longer and healthier lives for children with Cystic Fibrosis,” said lead researcher Dr Larry Lands, Department of Pediatrics at Montreal Children’s Hospital.

“High-dose ibuprofen, a relatively inexpensive treatment, requires medical supervision, but is generally well-tolerated. Further work is ongoing in my laboratory on the mechanisms of action of high-dose ibuprofen, so that more targeted and potent therapies can be developed,” Lands added.

The researchers have said that the long-term effects of prolonged use of high doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have yet to be determined.

This treatment is not presently recommended for routine use and patients receiving the therapy should do so under the supervision of a specialist CF Centre. However, future research could lead to real improvements in patients’ lives.

The study appears in the Cochrane Review. (ANI)