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Approximately 10-80% of patients with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) have vitamin D deficiency. Obtaining therapeutic vitamin D levels has been a challenge for CF care providers using current recommended high-dose oral ergocalciferol (400,000 IU over 2 months). The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a 2-week, very high dose ergocalciferol (700,000 IU over 14 days) repletion strategy in children and young adults with CF. As part of a quality improvement initiative, a prospective cohort study was performed from January through May 2007. Phase I included identifying individuals with CF who were subtherapeutic in 25-OH D. In phase II, 50,000 IU of ergocalciferol was prescribed for a 14 day term and administered daily. During phase III, a post treatment 25-OH D level was obtained to determine improvement. Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were obtained at study entry. Stratification of the post 25-OHD levels was defined. Eighteen individuals with CF participated in the study. The mean age was 17+/-5 years (range 6-25 years). One hundred percent were pancreatic insufficient and required pancreatic enzyme replacement. All 18 had 25-OHD levels less than 30 ng/mL pre-treatment. Seventeen of the 18 (94%) participants became therapeutic in the 2-week interval. No patients had values considered high abnormal (100-150 ng/mL) or toxic (>150 ng/mL). Mean change was noted at an increase of 37.3+/-22 ng/mL in the 2-week period (p<0.001). Pre and peripubertal individuals had a significantly greater increase in 25-OH D levels. The results of this study demonstrate that very high dosing of vitamin D using oral ergocalciferol over a 14 day period is an effective strategy in achieving therapeutic levels of 25-OH vitamin D in children and young adults with CF. We believe this regimen deserves further study.

Background: Obtaining an adequate volume of sweat to measure chloride is a challenge for many cystic fibrosis centers. The standard for patients older than 3 months is a less than 5% quantity not sufficient (QNS) rate; the suggested goal for patients aged 3 months or younger is a less than 10% QNS rate. St. Alexius Medical Center (SAMC) began performing sweat chloride testing in 2008. After an initial period of testing, a quality improvement (QI) program for sweat testing was instituted to improve QNS rates. Methods: Quantity not sufficient rates were evaluated before and after implementation for patients aged 3 months or younger and those older than 3 months. The QNS rates for each technician performing the tests were also evaluated. Results: Improvement was observed in QNS rates after implementation of the QI initiative regardless of patient age. After QI was implemented, QNS rates improved for most technicians. Conclusion: This study demonstrates how a QI improvement initiative can significantly improve QNS rates in sweat testing of infants, especially under 3 months of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]