Relationship between intestinal function and chloride secretion in patients with cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most frequent inheritable disease with a lethal course. One of the major problems of the disease is malabsorption and malnutrition, due to pancreatic insufficiency which is already present at birth in more than 85% of the patients. Characteristically the mucoid secretion products of the epithelial tissues in lung, pancreas, liver and intestine have a high viscosity. The pathophysiology is characterized by obstruction of these organs with secondary damage and finally destruction. For a long period intestinal obstruction syndromes in CF were ascribed only to the pancreatic insufficiency. Malabsorption is not only caused by enzyme deficiency but is also related to transport processes to the surface of the enterocytes. This indicates that the intestinal disorders in CF are partly the result of mucoid plugging and not only of pancreatic insufficiency. Recently in vitro studies have shown a blockade of secretion through chloride channels in the mucosal membrane of CF tissues. In vivo measurements of chloride fluxes in the rectum showed a disturbed regulation in CF patients. The high viscosity of the mucus and plugging is directly related to the diminished chloride secretion. So it is postulated that the abnormal chloride secretion is responsible for the intestinal obstruction and partially also for the malabsorption.