Cystic Fibrosis

CF is a classical autosomal recessive disease, in which affected patients are born to parents who are both carriers—that is, they have a mutation in one Chest physical therapy is the traditional airway clearance technique for cystic fibrosis. It includes postural drainage (positioning to allow movement of secretions) and percussion and vibration on the chest wall to loosen secretions. The circles indicate the sites of percussion. Adapted from <http://www2medsch.wisc.edu/childrenshosp/CF/cfpages/cpt2.html>. of their two CF genes. Carrier couples have a one-in-four risk of producing an affected child with each pregnancy. The carriers themselves are completely asymptomatic and even have normal sweat chloride tests.