From Case Western Reserve U: Antibiotic and Anti-Inflammatory Therapies for Cystic Fibrosis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23880054

Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2013 Jul 23. pii: cshperspect.a009779v1. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a009779. [Epub ahead of print]

Antibiotic and Anti-Inflammatory Therapies for Cystic Fibrosis.

Chmiel JF, Konstan MW, Elborn JS.

Source

Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease is characterized by chronic bacterial infection and an unremitting inflammatory response, which are responsible for most of CF morbidity and mortality. The median expected survival has increased from <6 mo in 1940 to >38 yr now. This dramatic improvement, although not great enough, is due to the development of therapies directed at secondary disease pathologies, especially antibiotics. The importance of developing treatments directed against the vigorous inflammatory response was realized in the 1990s. New therapies directed toward the basic defect are now visible on the horizon. However, the impact of these drugs on downstream pathological consequences is unknown. It is likely that antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs will remain an important part of the maintenance regimen for CF in the foreseeable future. Current and future antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapies for CF are reviewed.