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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Implementation of Non-invasive Point of Care Transient Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pediatric Populations with Cystic Fibrosis
Published on: August 29, 2025
Metabolic abnormalities in adults with cystic fibrosis
Vasiliki V Georgiopoulou1, Adam Denker, Kathy L Bishop
1Division of Cardiology, Section of Preventive Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. vgeorgi@emory.edu
Background And Objective:
Survival of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has improved, resulting in increased exposure of patients to cardiovascular risk factors. Diabetes mellitus is common in patients with CF; however, less is known about lipid abnormalities in this population. In this study, the prevalence of lipid abnormalities was investigated in a contemporary population of adults with CF.
Methods:
Clinical and laboratory data on 221 adult patients with CF were collected retrospectively. Fasting serum glucose levels and lipid profiles were recorded. The age-specific values for healthy individuals, as reported by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, were used for comparison.
Results:
The mean age of the patients was 30 +/- 10 years, 55.1% were men and the mean FEV(1)% was 68 +/- 25%. Sixty-nine patients (31.2%) had CF-related diabetes mellitus and 52 (23.5%) were receiving insulin therapy. In addition, 36 patients (16.3%) had impaired glucose tolerance. Triglyceride levels were similar to those of historical control subjects (mean +/- SEM, 1.37 +/- 0.05 and 1.39 +/- 0.02 mmol/L, respectively, P = 0.75). However, in the 30-39 years age group of CF patients, triglyceride levels were increased relative to those of their control counterparts (1.79 +/- 0.14 vs 1.38 +/- 0.04 mmol/L, P = 0.006). Total cholesterol levels were lower in the CF patients compared with control subjects, across all age groups.
Conclusions:
Abnormalities of glucose metabolism are highly prevalent in CF patients, and are accompanied by hypertriglyceridaemia in the 30-39 years age group. Prospective studies are required to confirm lipid abnormalities and investigate possible cardiovascular complications in patients with CF.
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