Fibrosing colonopathy in a man with cystic fibrosis on pancreatic enzyme supplements.
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We measured the activity of a non-lysosomal alpha-glucosidase with pH optimum near 6.0 in serum from a wide variety of patients, using the fluorogenic substrate, 4-methylumbelliferyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside. Acutely ill patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) demonstrated significant increases in alpha-glucosidase compared with CF outpatients. The former group of CF patients experienced far more severe chronic pulmonary disease than did the latter, whereas both groups had similar degrees of gastrointestinal impairment. Patients with pancreatitis associated with trauma or complicated by severe necrosis, hemorrhage, or abscess also displayed greater increases in alpha-glucosidase than did patients with uncomplicated (edematous) pancreatitis. For CF outpatients and patients with either edematous pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer, the alpha-glucosidase activity was similar to that for the general hospital-patient population. Corresponding changes were not observed for other measured serum glycosidases (alpha-fucosidase, alpha-mannosidase, beta-glucuronidase, beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase). Measurement of serum alpha-glucosidase may be of value in assessing the clinical course in CF and in differentiating necrotizing from edematous pancreatitis.
BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis causes exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, leading to malabsorption. Supplemental pancreatic enzyme therapy alleviates the concomitant malnutrition experienced by cystic fibrosis patients. It is recognized that patients experience variations in clinical response to different brands of enzymes. This has prompted the US Food and Drug Administration to require that enzyme supplements be subjected to New Drug Applications. AIM: To investigate the safety and efficacy of supplemental pancreatic enzyme therapy in cystic fibrosis subjects. METHODS: We compared two doses of one formulation of enteric-coated pancreatic enzymes: Ultrase MT12 (12,000 lipase units per capsule) and Ultrase MT20 (20,000 lipase units per capsule), to placebo in two separate safety and efficacy studies. RESULTS: Mean total fat, protein and carbohydrate intake did not differ significantly between the groups. A significant difference in both fat and protein absorption occurred with the enzyme therapy groups. The Ultrase MT12 and Ultrase MT20 groups experienced a mean fat and protein absorption 79.4% and 83.8%, and 87.3% and 88.6%, respectively. No adverse events related to study drug were reported. CONCLUSIONS: This study further supports the use of enzymes to treat pancreatic insufficiency in cystic fibrosis. Excellent fat and protein absorption was achieved with minimal adverse events and safe doses.
Causes of pancreatic dysfunction in childhood can be divided into two general categories: (1) hereditary conditions that directly affect the pancreas and (2) acquired disorders in which loss of pancreatic function is a secondary phenomenon. This article discusses genotypes and phenotypes, clinical features, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, isolated enzyme deficiencies, and other topics.
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We showed elsewhere that the pancreatic function status of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients could be correlated to mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Although the majority of CF mutations--including the most common, delta F508--strongly correlated with pancreatic insufficiency (PI), approximately 10% of the mutant alleles may confer pancreatic sufficiency (PS). To extend this observation, genomic DNA of 538 CF patients with well-documented pancreatic function status were analyzed for a series of known mutations in their CFTR genes. Only 20 of the 25 mutations tested were found in this population. They accounted for 84% of the CF chromosomes, with delta F508 being the most frequent (71%), and the other mutations accounted for less than 5% each. A total of 30 different, complete genotypes could be determined in 394 (73%) of the patients. The data showed that each genotype was associated only with PI or only with PS, but not with both. This result is thus consistent with the hypothesis that PI and PS in CF are predisposed by the genotype at the CFTR locus; the PS phenotype occurs in patients who have one or two mild CFTR mutations, such as R117H, R334W, R347P, A455E, and P574H, whereas the PI phenotype occurs in patients with two severe alleles, such as delta F508, delta I507, Q493X, G542X, R553X, W1282X, 621 + 1G----T, 1717-1G----A, 556delA, 3659delC, I148T, G480C, V520F, G551D, and R560T.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the risk factors for cystic fibrosis related liver disease. METHODS: Ten patients out of a total of 106 patients regularly followed-up during 1999 met the clinical, biochemical and/or ultrasound criteria for liver disease (9.4%). Using information from the admissions records at the service, we collected data on demography, genotype, age and manifestations at diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, nutritional status and laboratory findings. Variables associated with liver disease were initially identified by the Kaplan-Meier method. Those factors that were significant in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate analysis by means of a Cox regression model. RESULTS: Under univariate analysis the following factors were associated with liver disease: male sex, age at diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, pancreatic insufficiency, z score for weight at admission, Shwachman score and biochemistry at admission. After adjustment by Cox model, two variables were independently associated with liver disease: Shwachman score (p = 0.0057) and age at diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of developing liver disease is higher among patients diagnosed at an early age and those with worse clinical status as assessed by the Shwachman score, indicating that liver involvement might be part of a more severe form of the condition. These patients merit greater attention in terms of screening for liver disease and should be given treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid earlier in the event of abnormal findings.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease with multisystem involvement in which defective chloride transport across membranes causes dehydrated secretions. The protein encoded by the CF gene--the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)--functions as a cyclic adenosine monophosphate-regulated chloride channel. The ability to detect CFTR mutations has led to the recognition of its association with a variety of conditions, including chronic bronchitis, sinusitis with nasal polyps, pancreatitis, and, in men, infertility. This article reviews the impact of CF on the pancreas, the role of the CFTR protein in pancreatic secretion, and some of the exciting research identifying mutations in the CFTR gene as a risk factor for idiopathic acute and chronic pancreatitis.
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During two treatment periods (4 weeks each), serum immunoreactive trypsin (IRT), immunoreactive human lipase in stool (IRL), and chymotrypsin (CT) activity in stool were determined in 16 cystic fibrosis patients and compared with fecal fat excretion (72-h sampling). Fecal fat estimation revealed mild to severe steatorrhea in all 16 patients (X = 13.7 +/- 9.0 g/24 h) in at least one study period. Stool fat excretion was highest in underweight adolescents and adults. Comparison of IRT and IRL with stool fat values showed no significant statistical correlation. IRT values revealed an inverse exponential correlation with age, with a steep decline at the age of 5 years. CT levels were very high in 14 of our 16 patients during supplementation therapy, whereas 2 patients showed subnormal CT values. We conclude that since indirect parameters of pancreatic function do not correlate with stool fat excretion, stool fat remains the best indirect parameter for the assessment of pancreatic insufficiency in cystic fibrosis. Leaving pancreatic enzyme supplementation in cystic fibrosis patients on the basis of normal serum trypsin or fecal lipase values does not appear to be adequate.
Many Cystic Fibrosis (CF) carriers have been detected testing some subjects with chronic pancreatitis for a limited number of mutations. The aim of this study was to find out if some subjects with pancreatitis and a CFTR mutation actually carry another, undetected mutation. We screened for 18 CFTR mutations plus the CFTR intron 8 poly(T) tract length a population of 67 patients suffering from idiopathic either acute, or recurrent acute, or chronic pancreatitis. Three of them were diagnosed as affected by CF. Among the others, a subset of 14 (8 CFTR mutation carriers, 4 5T carriers, and 2 sweat chloride borderliners) was selected and analyzed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Six possibly CF-related mutations were detected: L997F and 3878delG were found in two of the subjects already carrying another mutation, S1235R and L997F in one patient carrying the 5T, and L997F and D614G in the two patients with borderline sweat chloride. Among the 14 selected cases a total of 11 patients carried at least one mutation, and three of them were compound heterozygotes. Though it is debatable whether these three individuals can be considered affected by CF, their pancreatitis is possibly a clinical manifestation of some CFTR-related disease. Hum Mutat 18:166, 2001.
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a recessive disease caused by mutations of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. The risk of idiopathic chronic pancreatitis (ICP) is increased in individuals who have CFTR genotypes containing a CF-causing mutation plus a second pathogenic allele. It is unknown whether the risk of ICP is increased in CF carriers who have one CF-causing mutation plus one normal allele. In this study, 52 sporadic cases of ICP were ascertained through the European Registry of Hereditary Pancreatitis and Familial Pancreatic Cancer. Individuals with pathogenic cationic trypsinogen mutations were excluded. DNA was comprehensively tested for CFTR mutations using a robotically enhanced, multiplexed, and highly redundant form of single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis followed by DNA sequencing. Fifteen subjects had a total of 18 pathogenic CFTR alleles. Eight subjects had common CF-causing mutations. This group included seven CF carriers in whom the second CFTR allele was normal (4.3 times the expected frequency, P=0.0002). Three subjects had compound heterozygotes genotypes containing two pathogenic alleles (31 times the expected frequency, P<0.0001). A variant allele of uncertain significance (p.R75Q) was detected in eight of the 52 ICP subjects and at a similar frequency (13/96) in random donors. ICP differs from other established CFTR-related conditions in that ICP risk is increased in CF carriers who have one documented normal CFTR allele. Having two CFTR mutations imparts a higher relative risk, while having only one mutation imparts a higher attributable risk.
Early detection and management of pancreatic insufficiency is essential to optimize health and outcomes in cystic fibrosis patients. The gold standard measures for assessment of pancreatic function are direct pancreatic stimulation tests, which have numerous limitations. Estimation of fecal elastase-1 level to determine pancreatic function is an attractive alternative as the test is simple, rapid, cost-effective and easy to perform even in children. This review summarizes the data from studies reflecting the validity, limitation and advantages of fecal elastase-1 in assessing pancreatic function in cystic fibrosis patients.
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The determination of endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function in cystic fibrosis patients is clinically important. Recently, a new non-invasive test, in which pancreatic stimulation by a Lundh meal is followed by sequential serum lipase measurements, was found to be a good indicator of exocrine pancreatic status. Since the Lundh meal also contains glucose, the present study assessed whether it also might be suitable for evaluation of the pancreatic endocrine axis. After an overnight fast, 10 healthy non-diabetic subjects and 14 cystic fibrosis patients ingested a Lundh meal. Glucose, insulin, and C peptide levels were measured at various time intervals following the meal. For purposes of comparison, the oral glucose tolerance test was also performed on the cystic fibrosis patients. All healthy subjects demonstrated an increase in glucose levels post Lundh meal, peaking at 45 min (mean 140+/-21 mg/dl) and then gradually declining and reaching the normal range at 120 min. Concordant peaks of insulin (46.3+/-20 IU/ml) and C peptide (5.8+/-1. 5 ng/ml) levels were noted at 60 min. All 14 cystic fibrosis patients had normal basal glucose levels: in 8, the pattern of glucose, insulin, and C peptide post Lundh meal was similar to that of the healthy controls. These 8 patients also had a normal oral glucose tolerance test, and their hemoglobin A(1C) levels were within the normal range. The other 6 cystic fibrosis patients demonstrated glucose levels above 200 mg/dl 30-60 min post Lundh meal, and all also had an impaired oral glucose tolerance test. Of these 6, 4 had high levels of hemoglobin A(1C). This study demonstrates that the Lundh meal challenges the endocrine pancreas as well as the oral glucose tolerance test. Thus, determination of both exocrine and endocrine pancreatic status can be achieved by a single non-invasive test.
We describe a case of pancreatic cystosis in an 18-year-old man suffering from cystic fibrosis, who presented with acute epigastric pain. Ultrasound and computed tomographic studies revealed multiple pancreatic cysts of various size, measuring up to 5 cm. Pancreatic macrocystosis is an extremely rare manifestation in cystic fibrosis.
To characterize pancreatic endocrine secretion and to examine interrelationships among alterations in alpha, beta, and pancreatic polypeptide cell function in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), we studied 19 patients with exocrine insufficiency (EXO), including 9 receiving insulin therapy (EXO-IT); 10 patients with no exocrine insufficiency (NEXO); and 10 normal control subjects. First-phase C-peptide response to intravenously administered glucose was significantly impaired in CF patients with exocrine insufficiency (EXO-IT = 0.02 +/- 0.01; EXO = 0.11 +/- 0.02; NEXO = 0.25 +/- 0.05; control subjects = 0.30 +/- 0.04 nmol/L). Lowering fasting glucose levels with exogenous insulin administration in EXO-IT did not improve beta cell responsivity to glucose. The C-peptide response to arginine was less impaired (EXO-IT = 0.12 +/- 0.02; EXO = 0.15 +/- 0.02; NEXO = 0.23 +/- 0.06; control subjects = 0.28 +/- 0.04 nmol/L). Alpha cell function, measured as peak glucagon secretion in response to hypoglycemia, was diminished in EXO but not NEXO (EXO-IT = 21 +/- 10; EXO = 62 +/- 19; NEXO = 123 +/- 29; control subjects = 109 +/- 12 ng/L). Despite diminished glucagon response, EXO patients recovered normally from hypoglycemia. Peak pancreatic polypeptide response to hypoglycemia distinguished CF patients with exocrine insufficiency from those without exocrine insufficiency (EXO-IT = 3 +/- 2; EXO = 3 +/- 1; NEXO = 226 +/- 68; control subjects = 273 +/- 100 pmol/L). Thus CF patients with exocrine disease have less alpha, beta, and pancreatic polypeptide cell function than CF patients without exocrine disease. These data suggest either that exocrine disease causes endocrine dysfunction in CF or that a common pathogenic process simultaneously and independently impairs exocrine and endocrine function.