Use
DNAse is a human endonuclease, normally present insaliva, urine, pancreatic secretions, and blood. Aerosolized recombinant human deoxyribonucleaseI (rhDNAse), dornase alfa, Pulmozyme, has beenformulated into an inhalation agent for the treatment of pulmonarydisease in patients with CF.Among the clinical manifestations of CF are obstructionof the airways by viscous, dehydrated mucus. Pulmonaryfunction is diminished, and microbes can become entrappedin the viscid matrix. A cycle of pulmonary obstruction andinfection leads to progressive lung destruction and eventualdeath before the age of 30 for most CF patients. The immunesystem responds by sending in neutrophils, and theseaccumulate and eventually degenerate, releasing largeamounts of DNA. The high levels of extracellular DNA releasedand the mucous glycoproteins are responsible for thedegenerating lung function. The DNA-rich secretions alsobind to aminoglycoside antibiotics typically used to treat theinfections. In vitro studies showed that the viscosity of thesecretions could be reduced by application of DNAse I.