Cystic fibrosis: diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

This review is intended to present a brief summary of the important 
areas and concepts of cystic fibrosis relevant to clinical practice, indicating 
those that remain controversial and offering opinions based on both relevant 
literature and the clinical experience of the Cleveland Cystic Fibrosis Center. 
The sweat test, tests of pancreatic function, tests of pulmonary function, 
genetics and family history in diagnosis, infertility as a diagnostic factor, 
the role of circulating factors in diagnosis, heterozygote detection and prenatal 
diagnosis, miscellaneous factors leading to diagnosis, neonatal screening, and general observations 
on the diagnosis of CF are examined. A philosophy of treatment, 
physical measures, antimicrobial therapy, aerosol therapy, the role of hospitalization in 
a therapeutic program, other drug therapy, the treatment of cor pulmonale, 
respiratory failure, and specific pulmonary complications are discussed. Enzyme replacement and 
obstructive phenomena, glucose intolerance, the treatment of the sweat defect, psychosocial 
therapy, and prognosis are also considered. 