Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of intermittent inhaled tobramycin.
Methods: To establish this, we initiated a prospective study to measure the concentration of the three pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-alpha in the sputum from 20 cystic fibrosis (CF) patients (15 teenagers and 5 young adults) during cycles and off cycles.
Results: A significant decrease in IL-8 (P = 0.001) and a more moderate decrease in IL-6 (P = 0.046) and TNF-alpha (P = 0.052) levels were observed during cycles, even if no significant decrease in the number of leucocytes was observed.
Conclusions: These results associated with a decrease in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa population can contribute in part to the beneficial effect of intermittent inhaled tobramycin on pulmonary function.