Bronchiectasis not caused by cystic fibrosis (CF) - non-CF bronchiectasis...

• represents a heterogeneous disease complex with many basic causes and frequently a corresponding diagnostic and therapeutic challenge,

• is characterized by a permanent widening of the bronchi and bronchioles and a vicious circle of chronic infection and inflammation, secretion and airway damage, and

• due to the considerable clinical symptoms and chronic progressive course brings with it an extraordinary burden and limitation of basic life skills for the affected patients.

Due to a conspicuous lack of epidemiological, basic scientific and clinical studies on non-CF bronchiectasis, the data situation for most of the therapies applied is sparse. This is particularly evident in the fact that, in 2015, there was still no registered pharmacological therapy available for this indication and essential prescriptions have to be fulfilled outside their proper registration (off-label).