Theme: Research Into Complications of cystic fibrosis affect everyone with the disease, regardless of their mutation. We are supporting research into cf complications, such as infections, inflammation, excessive mucus, and gastrointestinal

Theme: Research Into Complications

Complications of cystic fibrosis affect everyone with the disease, regardless of their mutation. We are supporting research into CF complications, such as infections, inflammation, excessive mucus, and gastrointestinal issues, to develop better treatments and improve outcomes for people with CF.




Infection
People with cystic fibrosis are prone to infections because of the thick, sticky mucus that clogs their airways. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is funding research to help fight these infections.

Why Are Infections a Problem in CF?
Infections are a problem for people with cystic fibrosis because they can cause fever, difficulty breathing, coughing, and excessive inflammation. A cycle of recurring infections and inflammation gradually destroys lung tissue.
People with CF are susceptible to infections from bacteria, viruses, and fungi because abnormally thick, sticky mucus traps these germs in the airways. They also are prone to infections because their mucus and airway liquid does not have the same infection-fighting properties as normal mucus. This abnormal mucus provides an ideal environment for bacteria to form protective layers — known as biofilms — that make them more difficult to kill.
Infections take a significant physical and mental toll on people with cystic fibrosis and remain a top concern. To make meaningful progress against this complex challenge, we have established the Infection Research Initiative to help improve the detection, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of infections.


Inflammation
Chronic inflammation in people with cystic fibrosis causes damage to lung tissue that can eventually lead to respiratory failure. Researchers are trying to discover ways to dampen the exaggerated immune response that causes chronic inflammation without affecting the body's natural defenses against infection.
What Is Inflammation?
Inflammation is part of your body's immune system response to something harmful or irritating, such as germs or damaged cells. White blood cells, blood, and fluids rush to the affected site to destroy the irritant and flush it from the body, often causing swelling, redness, and heat in that area. In the lungs, an immune response causes swelling that narrows the airways and makes it harder to breathe. An increased cough is often a sign of inflammation.
When the lungs are infected with bacteria, white blood cells release enzymes, called proteases, to break down the structural proteins in bacteria and eliminate the threat. Once the infection is gone, other chemicals signal the white blood cells to stop the attack. However, in people with cystic fibrosis, these chemical signals often are not released or are not plentiful enough to reverse the inflammatory response and prevent the destruction of healthy lung tissue.