Lindsey Shapiro, PhD,  science writer—

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) has published updated newborn screening (NBS) guidelines to help ensure better equity in the diagnosis and treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in the U.S. A key recommendation is that, should an initial NBS result be positive, follow-up genetic testing should involve all possible…

Treatment with melatonin, a hormone best known for its sleep-promoting role, was found to normalize inflammatory responses to airway infection and reduce the burden of infection-causing bacteria in a mouse model of cystic fibrosis (CF), per new research by U.S. scientists. “Long-term systemic treatment with melatonin is an effective…

Among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients treated with CFTR modulators in pivotal clinical trials, those who achieved lower sweat chloride levels — a standard assessment for diagnosing and monitoring CF — saw greater clinical improvements, according to a pooled analysis of trial data. Sweat chloride levels in patients also…

Cilia, the structures on the surface of respiratory cells that help propel mucus out of the airways, have altered movement patterns in people with cystic fibrosis (CF), a study from Belgium found. The researchers believe these abnormalities likely stem from inflammation and contribute to impaired mucociliary clearance (MCC) in…

There could be many genes beyond CFTR that influence cystic fibrosis (CF) severity and treatment responses, according to a review study. Across 70 different studies, dozens of these so-called genetic modifiers were found to affect the severity of various CF symptoms. Mutations in a few of them were…

In laboratory experiments, a team of researchers in Belgium identified a few strategies that might help prevent bacteria from forming treatment-resistant clusters called biofilms that are believed to underlie chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) — an inflammatory condition affecting the nasal passages and…

Long-term treatment with Trikafta (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor) led to significant gains in lung function and nutritional status for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with advanced lung disease, a real-world analysis shows. The improvements weren’t as large as those seen in patients with milder lung disease, but the findings demonstrate the…

Treatment with Trikafta (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor) cut sweat chloride levels in half among people with cystic fibrosis (CF), according to a real-world Danish study. Still, sweat chloride levels — a known biomarker of treatment responses in CF — were variable, and some treated patients still had levels out of the…

The real-world use of Kalydeco (ivacaftor) effectively eased disease severity in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) who had certain disease-causing mutations, according to a study that included patients with mutations for which Kalydeco was approved in the U.S. in 2017 based largely on laboratory data. “This study adds…

An Emory University program has been awarded $2 million toward optimizing the effectiveness of U.S. newborn screening programs, which help identify serious health conditions such as cystic fibrosis (CF) at birth. The four-year funding opportunity comes through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration…