Study participants: 15 women whose partners lacked the CF gene mutation, normal fertility except for failing to conceive, aged between 24 and 36.

Outcome: 17 pregnancies in 13 of the 15 women, resulting in 12 live births, two ongoing pregnancies and three miscarriages. Only one of the women needed a caesarean section, but 50% of the study participants had diabetes during pregnancy. Researchers also observed a slight decline in lung function during the year of pregnancy. All children, aged 10 years to one month, remain healthy.

The new study on ART and CF was presented recently at the 25th annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Amsterdam.

Dr. Sylvie Epelboin, who led the research, said:

“The results of our study are good news for women with cystic fibrosis because they show that ART is a hopeful option for them and does not increase the risk of medical problems or death for either themselves or their children. Furthermore, the possibility of ART for this growing population of young adults with cystic fibrosis has a positive impact on their quality of life by satisfying their wish to become parents. These women had given mature consideration to their desire for a child and were fully supported by their families.”

(Image via stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

Cystic Fibrosis & Safe Fertility Treatment

Lung transplantation may be an option for people with cystic fibrosis , emphysema, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis , or sarcoidosis , although there may be other illnesses in the group as well.

The study, done by researchers from Johns Hopkins, found that having both lung replaced by healthy lungs because if one lung is left behind, there may be some residual (left over) parts of the disease, which could end up causing problems. The researchers also point out that “when both lungs are replaced, the new lungs, which must breathe together as a pair, are already adapted to each other.”

The encouraging part of this study is that people who received two lungs had almost double the chances of long-term survival over those who only received eon. The discouraging part is this digs into the already very low number of lungs available for transplant.

By transplanting only one lung, surgeons can save two lives with one donor. According to a press release issued by the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions,

The finding is potentially controversial, researchers say, because there is already a shortage of organ donors, and more widespread use of bilateral lung transplants could nearly halve the potential number of beneficiaries. Though more than 1,400 lung transplants occurred in the United States in 2008, another 2,000 Americans remain on lung waiting lists, while 80 more are waiting for both a heart and lung.

What do you think? Should we be increasing the chances of long-term survival or give more people a shot at survival?

~~~~~

Image: Stock.xchng

Post from: Blisstree

2 lungs better than 1 in transplantation

“They are now put on to insulin once or twice or four times a day and we are seeing benefits in their lung function, their weight is going back up and they are, we hope, going to do better for longer,” he said.

via ABS News 

Post from: Blisstree

Link between cystic fibrosis and diabetes