title: Cystic fibrosis and formes frustes of CFTR-related disease.
abstract: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the commonest genetic cause of bronchiectasis in the Caucasian population. Since identification of the putative gene in 1989, the molecular basis of the condition has become clearer with characterisation of the unique pathophysiology. The small airways are the primary site of lung disease, with an intense but localised inflammatory picture, dominated by neutrophils. The clinical heterogeneity is explained to some degree by the distinct molecular consequences of the many mutations that have been recognised to affect the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene; however other genes appear to modify the phenotype as well as environmental exposure. It has become increasingly apparent that certain conditions may result from CFTR dysfunction without fulfilling diagnostic criteria for CF. In some cases this may result in single organ disease for which the term CF (or CFTR)-related disease has been advocated. Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens is the most clearly characterised of these. In other cases where a mild CF phenotype is apparent, atypical CF is probably a better term. It remains unclear whether carrier status predisposes to certain conditions such as chronic rhinosinusitis or pancreatitis.
authors.affiliation: Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, Institute of Child Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK. kwsouth@liv.ac.uk
authors.forename: Kevin W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Southern
mesh_terms: D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000002:abnormalities*; D044465:White People
chemical_list: C505032:CFTR protein, human; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator