Did you know that cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common lethal inherited disease in the Caucasian population, occurring in 1 in 20 newborns? Most patients benefit from medical therapies like hypertonic saline, intravenous and topical/nebulized antibiotics, and pancreatic enzymes. These therapies have helped alleviate the symptoms of this condition and extend the expected life spans of CF patients.

While currently, there is no one cure for CF, research efforts to find solutions to ease symptoms are ongoing. In 2019, the FDA approved Trikafta®, the first triple combination therapy available to treat patients with the most common cystic fibrosis mutation.

Want to know more about Trikafta® and how it can help you? Keep reading!

What Is Cystic Fibrosis Sinusitis?

Cystic Fibrosis, also called CF, is an inherited disease affecting various parts of your body, including the sinuses, lungs, and the digestive tract. It’s caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR), which results in impaired ion transport.

Your sinuses have glands that produce mucus, and it’s essential for the mucus to be kept hydrated. However, cystic fibrosis sinusitis hinders your body from producing the protein that keeps the mucus hydrated. Thick and sticky mucus can be hard to clear, resulting in inflammation and infection in your sinuses.

Nearly all people with CF develop chronic rhino-sinusitis (CRS), and your symptoms can worsen CF-related lung disease.

What Are the Symptoms of Cystic Fibrosis Sinusitis?

While some people with CF can be asymptomatic, here are some of the commonly observed symptoms of CF:

●    Anosmia or loss of smell

●    Headache

●    Facial pain or pressure

●    Nasal obstruction or chronic congestion

●    Nasal discharge

●    Severe bad breath

●    Nasal polyps

What Is TRIKAFTA®? How Can it Help?

Trikafta® is a prescription medicine used to treat cystic fibrosis (CF) in patients aged six years or older. Consider this treatment if you have the F508del mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR).
 
Trikafta® is a combination of three drugs (elexacaftor/ivacaftor/tezacaftor) that target the defective CFTR protein. It improves the functioning of the protein made by the CFTR gene mutation. Talk to a trusted healthcare expert about Trikafta® to learn if you could benefit from this treatment.

Precautions to Follow

Bear the following in mind if you’re considering Trikafta® as a potential treatment to treat your cystic fibrosis sinusitis.

●    If you’re breastfeeding, pregnant, or planning to get pregnant in the near future, note that we don’t know if the treatment could harm an unborn baby or if the drug can pass into your breast milk. Talk to a trusted professional before you decide to undergo this treatment plan.

●    Don’t take Trikafta® if you take antibiotics such as rifampin (RIFAMATE®, RIFATER®) or rifabutin (MYCOBUTIN®). Also, don’t consider it if you consume seizure medicines such as phenobarbital, carbamazepine (TEGRETOL®, CARBATROL®, EQUETRO®), or phenytoin (DILANTIN®, PHENYTEK®).

If you need help with cystic fibrosis sinusitis, talk to an experienced sinus specialist (Rhinologist) in Louisville, KY, and Jeffersonville, IN. Call or message us today to see Dr. Thomas S. Higgins, MD, MSPH. He specializes in cystic fibrosis nose and sinus conditions, so you can know you are receiving the best course of treatment.

Thomas S. Higgins, MD, MSPH

Father. Husband. Sinusitis Nerd.