Cystic fibrosis in South Africa: A changing diagnostic paradigm

Cystic fibrosis (CF), one of the most commonly observed and diagnosed fatal monogenic disorders globally, was initially thought to affect individuals of Caucasian/European descent almost exclusively. It is increasingly appreciated, however, that non-Caucasian populations are also affected by this co...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: M Pepper, C Stewart, J van Rensburg, M Alessandrini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Health and Medical Publishing Group 2018-07-01
Series:South African Medical Journal
Online Access:http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/download/12367/8559
Description
Summary:Cystic fibrosis (CF), one of the most commonly observed and diagnosed fatal monogenic disorders globally, was initially thought to affect individuals of Caucasian/European descent almost exclusively. It is increasingly appreciated, however, that non-Caucasian populations are also affected by this condition. Although this has been known in South Africa (SA) for over two decades, a large disparity still exists in data pertaining to the different population groups in the country. This article seeks to highlight existing published data on CF in SA populations and reflects on the means through which these have been generated over the years. Additionally, the article briefly discusses the consequences of incomplete data and how this could potentially be addressed in the future through innovative and collaborative approaches.
ISSN:0256-9574
2078-5135