Pulmozyme is prescribed for which condition?

• A. Asthma
• B. Cystic fibrosis
• C. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• D. Pneumonia

Answer: (B)

Pulmozyme is a mucolytic therapy used specifically in cystic fibrosis to thin thick, DNA-rich mucus in the airways. In CF, neutrophil debris makes mucus highly viscous, which blocks airways and impairs clearance. Dornase alfa, the active component, breaks down extracellular DNA in the mucus, reducing its viscosity and elasticity. This makes it easier for the cilia to move mucus out of the lungs and can improve lung function and reduce flare-ups. It’s given as an inhaled aerosol through a nebulizer, usually on a daily basis as part of CF airway clearance therapy. It isn’t used for asthma, COPD, or pneumonia because those conditions don’t involve the same DNA-rich mucus problem that dnase targets, and their treatments focus on other mechanisms.