Growth trajectories in Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis Population on
Elexacaftor-Tezacaftor-Ivacaftor: Real-Life Data
Abstract
Background Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multi-system disease that
causes chronic respiratory failure, malnutrition and poor growth as a
result of a negative energy balance due to maldigestion and
malabsorption. Achieving linear growth and height above the 50
th percentile is associated with improved lung
function. In October 2022, the use of Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor
(ETI) was approved for children with CF from the age of 6 years.
Analyses on the effect of ETI on height velocity (HV) are not usually
available from trial and real life data and our work aims to study
growth pattern by HV. A secondary aim was to check for any differences
according to the CFTR variants severity. Methods We conducted a
single-center prospective study at the CF Unit of the Bambino Gesù
Children’s Hospital, including children aged 6-11 years who were
eligible for ETI. The whole population of 24 people with CF (pwCF)
underwent evaluation of height, weight, body mass index (BMI), bone
mineral density (BMD), body composition analysis with bioelectrical
impedance analysis (BIA), and muscle weakness using the one-minute
sit-to-stand test (1STST) before starting the new drug. Height, weight,
height velocity (HV), BMI standard deviation scores (SDS) were
calculated for both 6 months before and 6 months after the start of ETI
treatment. Results The mean age of the population was 8.7 years
(SD 1.87), with a balanced gender distribution (F/M 12/12) and majority
naïve to previous CFTR modulators. We found a significant difference in
the growth rate achieved when comparing the calculated mean HV between T
(-6 months) and T0 (4.2±2.0 cm/year; -1.96±2.4 SDS) with the HV between
T0 and T (+6 months) (7.1±3.0 cm/year; +1.5±3.7 SDS) (p<0.0001).
The group with F508del/minimal function mutations (F/MF) – 15 pwCF –
had a higher average speed than those with homozygous F508del (F/F) – 5
pts – and those with F508del/residual function mutations (F/RF) – 4
pts – ( p< 0.0001). We found no significant
differences in the three different genetic groups concerning BMD and
initial lean mass. Conclusion The results highlight the benefit
of ETI in the pediatric CF population, particularly by increasing the HV
in children aged 6-11, especially those with the F/MF genotype. This
study further emphasizes the impact of CFTR restoration on a fundamental
aspect of the CF child’s well-being, growth.