News

Liver disease in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients needs to be detected much earlier, but early detection is increasingly likely as research interest in severe forms of the condition has grown. That was the message relayed during a talk by Dr. Daniel Leung of Baylor College Of Medicine in Texas, presented…

Recommendations by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) on enternal tube feeding for patients were supported by Jillian Sullivan, MD, from the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital today at the 30th Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference in Orlando, Florida. Sullivan’s presentation,“Role of the Gastroenterologist in Enteral Tube Feedings,” was part of a symposium…

Promising results of preclinical studies evaluating the effectiveness of SYGN113 to treat bacterial biofilms in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), and of SYGN303 to treat the gastrointestinal consequences of the disease, were presented at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC) now taking place in Orlando. Bacterial biofilms are…

Abnormal mucus clearance in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) may be improved with specific treatments, but despite intense research on the subject, there are many unanswered questions about how atypical mucus contributes to the disease and how to best improve the problem. Researchers debated the issue in three discussions at a…

In today’s symposium “Growing Older With CF” at the 30th Annual North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference (NACFC) in Orlando, Florida, Cathy Chacon, RN, from National Jewish Health, presented a discussion about integrating routine screenings into overall healthcare for aging CF patients. The session was titled “Recommended Screenings for Adults with CF.”…

In a recent symposium, scientists discussed the increased importance of physical therapy in addressing cystic fibrosis-associated muscle impairments and urinary incontinence. The presentation, titled “Posture, Pelvic Floor & Pistons: A Look Beyond ‘Kegels’ to Treat Urinary Incontinence,” was given today at the Symposium “Growing Older With CF” at the 30th…

Tai chi, taught either in face-to-face home sessions or using internet-based video calls, improved ease of breathing and posture in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who participated in a trial. Findings also showed that patients felt calmer and less stressed, which likely contributed to the ease of breathing. The study,…

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients carrying the F508del mutation in both CFTR gene copies maintained their lung function during more than two years of treatment with the combination drug Orkambi (ivacaftor/lumacaftor). The treatment also lowered the risk of acute exacerbations and improved patients’ weight. The study, “Reduction in Rate…

According to a new study, acute exacerbations of cystic fibrosis (CF) are associated with a surge of bacteria that do not depend on oxygen (called anaerobic or fermentative bacteria), which thrive when mucus becomes more acidic. Antibiotic treatment kills this bacteria, allowing Pseudomonas aeruginosa to thrive, but as the treatment effect wanes,…

In a recent presentation, researchers showed how Kalydeco (ivacaftor) is an effective therapy in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients with pancreatic insufficiency, improving the patients’ pulmonary function and weight, along with other clinical parameters. The presentation, “Improvement in weight, pulmonary function and other outcomes with 3-month Ivacaftor treatment differed by exocrine pancreatic…