Pulmonary artery enlargement and cystic fibrosis pulmonary exacerbations: a cohort study.

Background: Acute pulmonary exacerbations are associated with progressive lung function decline and increased mortality in cystic fibrosis. The role of pulmonary vascular disease in pulmonary exacerbations is unknown. We aimed to assess the association between pulmonary artery enlargement (defined as pulmonary artery diameter to ascending aorta diameter [PA:A] ratio >1), a marker of pulmonary vascular disease, and exacerbations.

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator activation by roflumilast contributes to therapeutic benefit in chronic bronchitis.

Cigarette smoking causes acquired cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) dysfunction and is associated with delayed mucociliary clearance and chronic bronchitis. Roflumilast is a clinically approved phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor that improves lung function in patients with chronic bronchitis. We hypothesized that its therapeutic benefit was related in part to activation of CFTR.