A Review on Clinical Diagnosis, Novel Therapeutic Strategies and Future Approaches for Management of Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is agenetic disorder inherited in an autosomal recessive manner that impairs the normal clearance of mucus from the lungs, which facilitates the colonization and infection of the lungs by bacteria, notably Staphylococcus aureus. CF is a rare genetic disorder that affects mostly the lungs, but also the pancreas, liver, kidneys, and intestine. The hallmark feature of CF is the accumulation of thick mucus in different organs. Long-term issues include difficulty breathing and coughing up mucus as a result of frequent lung infections. Other signs and symptoms may include sinus infections, poor growth, fatty stool, clubbing of the fingers and toes, and infertility in most males. Different people may have different degrees of symptoms. CF gets worse over time and needs daily care, but people with CF usually can attend school and work. They often have a better quality of life than people with CF had in past decades. Better screening and treatments mean that people with CF now may live into their mid- to late 50s or longer, and some are being diagnosed later in life. The gene therapies will continue to be an important strategy for CF as well as other genetic diseases, and organoid-based regenerative medicine designed with gene engineering technologies can provide an enormous innovation for CF therapy in the next years.