“My son died of cystic fibrosis when he was a teenager. Is it possible for his brother to get it too?”
My son was only 13 when he died of cystic fibrosis, and now I'm pregnant again with another boy. Is cystic fibrosis a genetic disease? Is it possible for my baby to have this too?
4 Answers
If he has the same father there is a 25% chance of having CF. Your obstetrician will answer the question for you.
Yes, cystic fibrosis is a very common genetic disorder. An affected individual has 2 mutations in the CF gene. Each gene is contributed from each parent. The risk that the fetus you carry could be born with CF if from the same father is 25%. If the father is different, he needs to be tested to find out if he carries a CF mutation. Genetic testing is available in pregnancy, and can be arranged for you by your obstetrician.
Yes, CF is a genetic disease.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease, yes. If your unborn son has the same father as your other son, then there is a 25% chance that he could have CF. If he has another father, then his odds of having CF are less than 3%. Your unborn child can be tested for CF before birth. In the United States, all babies are screened for CF at birth. For more information, you may want to consult with the CF Center at which your older son received care, or you can discuss your question with the pediatrician who will take care of your baby.
I am sorry for your loss of your older son.
Ran D. Anbar, M.D.
I am sorry for your loss of your older son.
Ran D. Anbar, M.D.
