Cystic fibrosis

The pathogenesis of chronic pulmonary infection in patients with cystic fibrosis has been an area of intense research and considerable progress over the past 5 years. A number of important studies in the past 2 years have demonstrated that infection and inflammation is a feature during the first weeks and months of life in patients with cystic fibrosis. Laboratory experiments have determined some of the bacterial and host factors which predispose patients with cystic fibrosis to infection early in life, and contribute to the chronicity of infection. The understanding of the host response to infection has also seen progress, and a number of studies using anti-inflammatory agents have suggested that modulation of the host response to infection, particularly neutrophil responses, can be achieved. Treatments aimed at modifying the host response to chronic infection may lead to important improvements in clinical outcome.