Cystic Fibrosis (CF), also known as Mucoviscidosis, is a genetic disease that mainly affects the respiratory and digestive systems. This disease is caused by mutations in the CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator) gene. The CFTR protein is a protein that helps salt and water move between cells properly. Mutations disrupt the function of this protein, causing mucus to become thicker and stickier.
18 mutations refer to several mutations present in the CFTR gene. The CFTR gene can have various mutations, but the most common is the Delta F508 mutation. Mutations can cause different clinical effects.