THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES TO CYSTIC-FIBROSIS - MEMORANDUM FROM A JOINT WHO ICF(M)A MEETING

Cystic fibrosis is one of the commonest genetic diseases among Caucasi ans and represents an important cause of suffering and death among chi ldren and adults. In the past two decades marked prolongation of the l ife of patients with cystic fibrosis has been achieved as the result o f improved case-finding and an extensive regimen of therapies. more re cently, a variety of new approaches to therapy have been developed or proposed as the result of advances in cell physiology and molecular bi ology. This article summarizes the presentations and discussions made at a joint WHO/ICF(M)A (International Cystic Fibrosis (Mucoviscidosis) Association) meeting, held in Washington, DC, on 14 October 1992, and reviews the current status of possible therapies for cystic fibrosis and their implications for treatment in various countries of the world .