The use of drugs to manage symptoms in people with arthritis related to cystic fibrosis

Arthritis is not a common complication of cystic fibrosis, but it can be a major complication when it does occur. There are two distinct types of arthritis in cystic fibrosis: cystic fibrosis-related arthropathy (CFA) and hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPO). The best treatment for these conditions is not clear because of the underlying disease and its intense treatment. We planned to report evidence from clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different anti-inflammatory analgesic drugs compared with placebo, with each other or with no treatment. However, we were disappointed that we could not find any completed randomised controlled trials of these treatments or any evidence from non-randomised controlled trials. One study in CFA has recently finished and may provide some evidence when published. We suggest that there should be a randomised controlled trial to look at the effects and the safety of using anti-inflammatory drugs or painkillers or both to manage the symptoms of cystic fibrosis-related arthritis.