Cystic fibrosis overview
| https://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhFpFiZumS0%7C350}} |
|
Cystic fibrosis Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Cystic fibrosis overview On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Cystic fibrosis overview |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Cystic fibrosis overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:
Overview
Historical Perspective
In the late 1930s cystic fibrosis was first recognized as a disease. In 1949, Lowe and colleagues suggested this theory that cystic fibrosis must be caused by a defect in a single gene. In 1989, the CFTR gene was discovered first. In 1990, scientists successfully added cloned normal gene to cystic fibrosis cells which corrected the chloride transportion.
Classification
Cystic fibrosis may be classified according to CFTR protein function abnormality into 6 groups: lack of production (Class 1), failure to reach the site of action due to misfolding (class 2), defects in gating (class 3), reduced ion conductance (class 4), abnormally low channel numbers (class 5) and decreased half-life (class 6). Cystic fibrosis classes 1,2 and 3 are the most common types which have associated with pancreatic insufficiency.
Pathophysiology
Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disease that caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Substitution of a single amino acid is the most common type of CFTR gene mutation. CFTR gene functions as a chloride channel (pumps chloride from the intracellular space to the extracellular space) found on the surface of the epithelial cells. The genetic mutations result in defective transport of chloride, and secondarily sodium and eventually abnormal viscous mucoid secretions mostly in lungs (results in airway surface liquid depletion, decreased mucociliary transport, inflammation and infection) and GI tract (results in reduced volume of pancreatic secretion, pancreatic tissue destruction and fibrosis, malnutrition and poor growth). Infertiliy due to atresia/absent vasa deferentia and abnormal/absent seminal vesicles is the associated condition of cystic fibrosis.
Causes
Differentiating Hereditary pancreatitis from Other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Every person inherits two CFTR genes, one from each parent. Children who inherit two mutated CFTR genes from both parents will have cystic fibrosis.
Screening
Newborn screening identified most of the children with cystic fibrosis before the symptoms develop. It offers this opportunity for early diagnosis and improved outcomes. Immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) of serum is raised in newborns with cystic fibrosis and has been used as a screening test. A raised IRT in the first week of life is a sensitive test but not specific for cystic fibrosis.
Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis
Malnutrition and poor growth (due to loss of pancreatic exocrine function) leads to death in the first decade of life for most untreated patients. The most significant complications are seen in airways (responsible for 80% of mortality) and most common chronic pulmonary infection include P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and H. influenzae. In cystic fibrosis 98% of men are infertile due to aspermia. Lung complications are currently the primary causes of morbidity and are responsible for 80% of mortality in these patients and gastrointestinal complications include pancreatice insufficiency, pancreatitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, distal intestinal obstuction syndrome, constipation and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. In cystic fibrosis, obstructive lung disease and other lung complications are currently the primary causes of morbidity and are responsible for 80% of mortality. At present time survival probability of children is 40-50 years.
Diagnosis
Diagnostic study of choice
The sweat chloride test is the gold standard test for the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. A sweat chloride value of more than 59 mmol/L is diagnostic for cystic fibrosis, 30-59 mmol/L needs more evaluation with CFTR genetic analysis and less than 30 is indicates that cystic fibrosis is unlikely.