cystic fibrosis

noun

: a common, progressive hereditary disease of exocrine gland function that typically appears in infancy or early childhood and is marked by the accumulation of thick, sticky mucus in the ducts and passages of various organs and especially those of the lungs and pancreas resulting in shortness of breath, persistent cough, chronic respiratory infection, pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, faulty digestion, malnutrition, and poor growth

Note: The genetic mutation linked to cystic fibrosis causes disruption in the movement of chloride ions and water across cell membranes resulting in mucus that is thick and sticky instead of thin and slippery and in elevated concentrations of sodium and chloride in sweat and saliva. Cystic fibrosis occurs especially in people of northern European ancestry and is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait requiring that both parents pass on a copy of the defective gene on a chromosome other than a sex chromosome.

… children with cystic fibrosis are born with healthy lungs; only later do their lungs become plugged with mucus and incur infections.

—The Journal of the American Medical Association

Cystic fibrosis is the most common lethal inherited disorder in the United States. Approximately 30,000 people in this country have inherited two defective copies of the CF gene and thus the disease; approximately 1 in 20 Americans has just one copy of the gene and is a carrier of the disease.

—Joe Palca

—abbreviation CF

Examples of cystic fibrosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

All three scientists work at Vertex’s cystic fibrosis research center in San Diego and have collaborated for more than 20 years. —Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2023

Chronic conditions: Chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, cystic fibrosis, and celiac disease can impede growth, according to Indiana University Health. —Maria Carter, Parents, 5 July 2023

Mark your calendar May is awareness month for arthritis, lupus, hepatitis, celiac disease, strokes, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, cystic fibrosis and better hearing. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2023

For decades, biotechs here have rolled out treatments for diseases such as multiple sclerosis and cystic fibrosis. —Robert Weisman, BostonGlobe.com, 3 June 2023

The life span for someone with cystic fibrosis used to be about 30 years. —James Weber, The Enquirer, 20 July 2023

Lawrence, a patient with cystic fibrosis from Massachusetts, has been on antibiotics almost her whole life. —Simar Bajaj, STAT, 11 July 2023

He was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at a young age, as well as Ehlers-Danlos, POTS and adrenal insufficiency, all conditions that continue to affect him. —Alec Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 26 May 2023

In a 2016 study, researchers made mini-guts from cell samples from patients with cystic fibrosis and then used the organoids to predict which patients would respond to new drugs. —Emily Anthes, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2023

See More

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cystic fibrosis

noun

: an inherited disease marked by the buildup of thick sticky mucus chiefly in the lungs and pancreas leading to recurrent lung infections and digestive problems

Medical Definition

cystic fibrosis

noun

: a common, progressive, hereditary disease of exocrine gland function that typically appears in infancy or early childhood and is marked by the accumulation of thick, sticky mucus in the ducts and passages of various organs and especially those of the lungs and pancreas resulting in shortness of breath, persistent cough, chronic respiratory infection, pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, faulty digestion, malnutrition, and poor growth

Note: The genetic mutation linked to cystic fibrosis causes disruption in the movement of chloride ions and water across cell membranes resulting in mucus that is thick and sticky instead of thin and slippery and in elevated concentrations of sodium and chloride in sweat and saliva. Cystic fibrosis occurs especially in people of northern European ancestry and is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait requiring that both parents pass on a copy of the defective gene on a chromosome other than a sex chromosome.

called also fibrocystic disease of the pancreas, mucoviscidosis

—abbreviation CF