Cystic Fibrosis is a rare genetic disorder, usually diagnosed in childhood. It is a chronic progressive disease that causes mucus to become thick, dry and sticky. The mucus builds up and clogs passages in the lungs, pancreas and other organs in the body.
There is no cure for cystic fibrosis. Management of the disease varies from person to person and generally focuses on treating respiratory and digestive problems to prevent infection and other complications. Treatment usually involves a combination of medications and home treatment methods, such as respiratory and nutritional therapies.The defect is due to a defect in the transport of chloride ions in and out of the cell. In addition, certian other elements like sodium and potassium are also involved. Our body knows how to separate these things all by itself. Sodium is usually higher outside the cell, potassium is higher inside the cell and chloride, depending on the cell type, can be the same or different.
Research is now being focussed on how to manipulate the transport of this chloride ion which causes so many problems in and out of the cell in such a way that the disease can be corrected. If the experiments turn out successful, then it would not be long before a treatment modality for the so called untreatable genetic disoder could be made a reality.The goal of the research is to make a drug that would work efficiently and effectively at low doses.
