Editorial: Mists and aerosols: new studies, new thoughts.

The recent data suggest that we can no longer use mist tents 
or intermittent aerosol therapy for cystic fibrosis patients with the abandon 
previously employed. We cannot accept such therapy as having been proved 
to be effective. We formerly believed aerosols and mists could do 
little harm; we now know they can be harmful. If such 
treatment is to be used, the patient should be closely monitored 
clinically and with sensitive pulmonary function tests such as maximum expiratory 
flow volume curves. It is obvious that we have much more 
to learn, confirm or disprove with respect to the rationale for 
and benefits of mist and aerosol therapy. 