Recombinant human deoxyribonuclease shortens ventilation time in young, mechanically ventilated children

Pediatr Pulmonol. 2006 Jan;41(1):61-6. doi: 10.1002/ppul.20298.

Abstract

Recombinant human deoxyribonuclease I (dornase alfa) is currently used as an inhaled mucoactive agent in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study in 100 infants, we investigated whether the therapeutic use of dornase alfa can be extended to ventilated, fluid-restricted children to reduce reintubation rate, ventilation duration, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay, and ventilation complications. While reintubation rates were similar for dornase alfa 7% vs. placebo 9% (odds ratio, 0.77; confidence interval, 0.11-4.9), the incidence of atelectasis (6 vs. 17, respectively; P-value 0.051), median ventilation time (2.2 vs. 3.4 days, respectively; P-value 0.043), median length of PICU stay (7 vs. 8 days, respectively; P-value 0.051), and mean costs (4,830 vs. 6,320, respectively) were lower in the dornase alfa group. No adverse effects were observed, even in critically ill patients. We found that dornase alfa was beneficial and safe. Our findings also indicate that dornase alfa is possibly of value from the first day of mechanical ventilation onward, particularly when longer ventilation (>3 days) is expected in fluid-restricted children after cardiac surgery.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Deoxyribonuclease I / administration & dosage
  • Deoxyribonuclease I / economics
  • Deoxyribonuclease I / therapeutic use*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intensive Care Units, Pediatric / economics
  • Intubation, Intratracheal
  • Length of Stay / economics
  • Male
  • Postoperative Care
  • Postoperative Complications / prevention & control
  • Pulmonary Atelectasis / prevention & control
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Respiration, Artificial*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • DNASE1 protein, human
  • Deoxyribonuclease I