Osteoporosis in cystic fibrosis patients: prevention and therapeutic opportunities

As the life expectancy of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) increases, the rate of pulmonary and extrapulmonary complications grows and greater contributes to worsening of general somatic status of the patients. One of such complications is osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a systemic disease that is characterized by decreased bone density and increased risk of fractures in minimal trauma. The role of osteoporosis in CF patients is defined by consequences of osteoporotic fractures which are immobilization, failure of bronchial tree drainage, exacerbation of respiratory infection, and progress of respiratory failure. Therefore, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis is an important issue of adult CF patients.