Close relatives of cystic fibrosis patients will undergo testing for the gene that carries the disease when it is offered free in their homes with counseling, according to researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Those most likely to undergo genetic testing are financially secure, educated women who believe their risk of bearing a child with cystic fibrosis is higher than average, according to the study. Dr. James R. Sorenson, professor of health behavior and health education in the School of Public Health, is the study's principal investigator. Md. The National Institutes of Health has scheduled a news conference for Wednesday, April 16, at 1 p.m. to discuss the experts' conclusions.
Cystic fibrosis is a fatal, congenital lung disease.
Cystic fibrosis causes protective mucus in the lungs to become overly sticky and dry, which traps bacteria and causes severe infections that eventually permanently damage the lungs. Although medicine has made great strides in treating cystic fibrosis in the past two decades, patients usually don't live past 40. The UNC-CH School of Medicine and UNC Hospitals are home to the nation's largest cystic fibrosis research and treatment center. Sorenson and his fellow researchers found that when they offered free genetic counseling in homes, relatives of patients with cystic fibrosis were more likely to accept it than if the testing was performed in a clinic. The test involved obtaining a saliva sample, a painless and quick procedure.