About this Research Topic
In recent years, treatment protocols and survival rates of cystic fibrosis (CF) have remarkably improved in high-income economies. However, there are still many problems in diagnosis and treatment of patients in develop economies, as well as vulnerable populations within high-income countries. Increased life expectancy, higher costs of new treatment modalities and a better understanding of genetics call for a more sophisticated approach to these patients. Newborn screening, diagnostic tools and treatment protocols are reported in publications, and a multidisciplinary approach to CF is required.
There is a great amount of data on CF, but many discrepancies among countries and between different centers. New treatment modalities have great potential to change the natural course of the disease, but due to the high economic cost of these treatment, inequality among patients in different socio-economic circumstances may increase. An update of guidelines and research is needed for a standardized worldwide approach. For this purpose, we welcome CF researchers to contribute to this collection focusing on main problems in the management of CF, especially emphasizing on the differences in approaches across the world. Another goal is to enable a multidisciplinary understanding of the disease.
The scope of this Research Topic includes an updated review of the literature on CF in children. Authors are encouraged to submit reviews on these sub-themes:
• Definition of CF and general characteristics;
• Pathophysiology of CF;
• Genetic testing;
• Microbiology of CF;
• Clinical features of CF in different ages;
• Worldwide epidemiology of CF;
• Implementing newborn screening programmes;
• Diagnostic approach and the difficulties in diagnosis;
• Implementing CF registry –what are the difficulties in national and international registries?;
• Quality of life in patients with CF;
• Management of the disease – antibiotic usage, anti-inflammatory treatment, physiotherapy, nutritional management, mucolytics, genetic approach;
• Future treatment modalities – what’s next?;
• Transition to adult CF center;
• How to start a CF center?;
• International approach.
There is a great amount of data on CF, but many discrepancies among countries and between different centers. New treatment modalities have great potential to change the natural course of the disease, but due to the high economic cost of these treatment, inequality among patients in different socio-economic circumstances may increase. An update of guidelines and research is needed for a standardized worldwide approach. For this purpose, we welcome CF researchers to contribute to this collection focusing on main problems in the management of CF, especially emphasizing on the differences in approaches across the world. Another goal is to enable a multidisciplinary understanding of the disease.
The scope of this Research Topic includes an updated review of the literature on CF in children. Authors are encouraged to submit reviews on these sub-themes:
• Definition of CF and general characteristics;
• Pathophysiology of CF;
• Genetic testing;
• Microbiology of CF;
• Clinical features of CF in different ages;
• Worldwide epidemiology of CF;
• Implementing newborn screening programmes;
• Diagnostic approach and the difficulties in diagnosis;
• Implementing CF registry –what are the difficulties in national and international registries?;
• Quality of life in patients with CF;
• Management of the disease – antibiotic usage, anti-inflammatory treatment, physiotherapy, nutritional management, mucolytics, genetic approach;
• Future treatment modalities – what’s next?;
• Transition to adult CF center;
• How to start a CF center?;
• International approach.
Keywords: cystic fibrosis, children, treatment, diagnosis, genetics
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
