THURSDAY, Nov. 15, 2007 (HealthDay News) -- Experts on Thursday issued new clinical standards for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF).
The guidelines were based on a two-year review of published research on patients aged six and older.
"Physicians treating patients with CF are faced with a growing number of treatment options. We are hopeful that clinicians will find these recommendations to be useful in their care of patients with CF," the guidelines' lead author, Dr. Patrick A. Flume, said in a prepared statement.
CF is a genetic disease that affects the lungs and other organs. It's characterized by thick, sticky mucus that makes it almost impossible for CF patients to fight off germs and infections. The disease is always fatal, and lung disease accounts for 85 percent of deaths among CF patients. However, advances in treatment in the last 60 years have increased life expectancy from just a few years to about 36 years.
Flume and his colleagues looked at a number of treatments and rated their effectiveness. Those with the strongest, most consistent results were given an "A" grade recommendation. They are:
"B" grade recommendations were given for:
The guidelines recommend against:
There wasn't sufficient evidence to recommend for or against other types of treatment, said Flume and his colleagues.
The guidelines are published in the second issue for November of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
More information
The March of Dimes has more about cystic fibrosis.