There are the ongoing Isis trials for little ones, and of course a lot of formal data for teens/adults, but little real data for school-age kids and hypersal. So when starting it, Emily's dr presented to me our 'clinic report' for those who use it. Average increase in fev1 doesn't sound amazingly impressive- only about 4%, but he stressed that included everyone, including kids who didn't tolerate it amazingly well; that many who liked it a lot increased by upwards of 8% or so. And that what he felt was more significant than a smallish increase in fev1 was a decrease in exacerbations and need for abx- so kids were staying healthier for longer periods of time. He didn't mention anything about change in what bugs kids cultured at all before or after, but I agree that salt does have antimicrobial properties and can only help in that aspect and if kids are having fewer exacerbations, it must be helping there somehow. And goodness- this stuff has nothing toxic- nothing that can affect the liver, or brain, or kidneys... nothing to interact with other meds. It's cheap. What's there to lose?
The other dr I like there a lot was talking to me about both hypersal and Pulmozyme and explained how well he thinks they work together (not at the same time of course!); that he likes Pulmozyme for it's long-lasting effect in the lung, Hypersal is dramatic for bringing up a lot but has a shorter-acting effect ...therefore likes to see his patients on both if possible for the different ways they attack the mucus.