Symptoms Of Cystic Fibrosis In Children

Scientists have suggested an imbalance of omega 3 fatty acids can cause lung inflammation observed in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a recessive disorder and affects the lungs.

The main objective of the medical and scientific research on cystic fibrosis is to understand, treat and cure cystic fibrosis. A hereditary disease, cystic fibrosis is a phenomenon that affects about 30,000 Americans and is the disease most common life-shortening genetic known. Cystic fibrosis is a fatal disease caused by a defective gene that affects approximately 30,000 children in America.

Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, University of Massachusetts and Massachusetts General Hospital took tissue samples from 38 patients with cystic fibrosis.
It was found that they had extremely high levels of arachidonic acid (AA) and abnormally low levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
People who do not have CF did not have the imbalance of fatty acids.

Researchers believe that most of the symptoms of cystic fibrosis follow the same pattern: the mutant gene produces a mutated glycoconjugates leading to defective component cell. There are about ten million asymptomatic carriers of the cystic fibrosis gene defect in America.

They say that too much acid and too little of another, the bodies of patients are more prone to inflammation.
In the New England Journal of Medicine, they suggest omega-3 found in fish, could help correct the imbalance.

Each week, three young people in the United Kingdom die from the disease which is caused by the defective CFTR gene.
CF causes abnormally thick, sticky mucus to be produced in the body, causing chronic inflammation of the lungs leading to fatal infections.
The average life expectancy for a person with CF is around 31.

To diagnose cystic fibrosis, the laboratory conducts a test of the sweat. When the lungs and airways are blocked, the cystic fibrosis patient cough produces sputum and very thick. The authors conclude that forced ionization of indoor air represents a natural and effective treatment for respiratory disease in patients with cystic fibrosis.

When cystic fibrosisTR is not normal, the regulation of salt through the membranes becomes defective. In the respiratory system the thin lining of mucus becomes thick and sticky. As the digestive juices can not reach the intestine, due to blocked ducts in the pancreas and liver, fat and proteins are not digested.

Dr. Steven Freedman of the gastroenterology division at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, who led the research, said: "Since 1989 we have known that the defective CFTR gene is responsible for CF.
"But we do not understand how this defective gene leads to symptoms of the disease.
"This new study sheds light on what might happen and provides a link between CFTR function and fatty acid metabolism."
He added: "We know that large amounts of AA and low amounts of DHA predispose to inflammation.
"This discovery could help explain why there is an excessive inflammatory response in patients with cystic fibrosis.
"This is the basis for explaining why the omega-3 fish found in cold water fish as well as supplements, reduce inflammation because they increase levels of DHA and AA deletion."
"No regime change"

Dr Adam Jaffe, director of the Research Institute at the CF of Child Health London, told BBC News Online the research was interesting but not conclusive.
"Patients should not alter their diet based on false associations between fatty acids and inflammation.
"But I would not be against them to add supplements to their diet."

Tom O'Connor, an expert.