Cystic Fibrosis Related Bone Disease

Abstract

Over the past several decades, life expectancy for patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has increased significantly. As patients live longer, other nonpulmonary co-morbidities related to CF have become increasingly prevalent, including CF-related bone disease. Because CF related bone disease has only recently emerged as a clinical problem, and the underlying bone alterations and pathogenesis of this condition have not been established. This thesis explores the underlying bone micro-architecture and strength alterations found in adults with CF using state-of-the-art bone imaging techniques and explores whether improvements in the treatment of patients with CF over the past 15 years has led to similar improvements in bone health.