Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal, recessive,genetically transmitted disease, which manifests as a chronic, multi-system, life-shortening disorder. It is the result of defective epithelial ion transport caused by mutations in the 230-kb gene on chromosome 7 - named the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR).
Over 1 000 mutant alleles have been identified and among these DF508 is the most common. The prevalence
of the disease varies among different ethnic groups, with the highest prevalence among Caucasians and much less common among African Americans and Orientals Indeed, there have been very few case reports of the disease in the Asian population.
Diagnosis should be based on laboratory evidence of the CFTR abnormality, including an elevated concentration of the sweat chloride, identification of two CFTR mutations, or evidence of the characteristic patterns of ion transport across the nasal epithelia. Sweat chloride levels between 60 and 165 mEq/L are considered diagnostic for CF.(5) However, not all of these investigative tools are available in Thailand, which may explain the lack of case reports from Thailand.
Theauthors encountered three Northeast Thai infants with this rare disease and present the findings.