Biomaterial Database

Intact splenic function in cystic fibrosis. 1994

N J Barrios, and M Kiernan, and R Beckerman, and S Davis

Department of Pediatrics, All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida 33701.

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) suffer from severe chronic pulmonary infections but rarely develop bacteremia/septicemia suggestive of an intact splenic mononuclear phagocyte function. The splenic function of 25 patients diagnosed with CF, aged 2 to 37 years, was evaluated using erythrocyte pit count by direct interference contrast microscopy. Results were compared with patients with sickle cell disease and normal individuals. All CF patients displayed normal splenic function by pit count. The mean percentage of pitted erythrocytes was 0.20 +/- 0.28 (range: 0.0% to 1.0%) versus 0.19 +/- 0.33 (range: 0.0% to 1.4%) in normal eusplenic controls. There were no episodes of bacteremia or septicemia despite recurrent acute exacerbations of chronic bacterial bronchitis and the use of central lines. We conclude that splenic function in CF is unabridged and may account for the rarity of bacteremia/septicemia in patients with CF despite the high prevalence of chronic bronchial infection in this population.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003550	Cystic Fibrosis	An autosomal recessive genetic disease of the EXOCRINE GLANDS. It is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRANSMEMBRANE CONDUCTANCE REGULATOR expressed in several organs including the LUNG, the PANCREAS, the BILIARY SYSTEM, and the SWEAT GLANDS. Cystic fibrosis is characterized by epithelial secretory dysfunction associated with ductal obstruction resulting in AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION; chronic RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS; PANCREATIC INSUFFICIENCY; maldigestion; salt depletion; and HEAT PROSTRATION.	Mucoviscidosis,Cystic Fibrosis of Pancreas,Fibrocystic Disease of Pancreas,Pancreatic Cystic Fibrosis,Pulmonary Cystic Fibrosis,Cystic Fibrosis, Pancreatic,Cystic Fibrosis, Pulmonary,Fibrosis, Cystic,Pancreas Fibrocystic Disease,Pancreas Fibrocystic Diseases
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D013154	Spleen	An encapsulated lymphatic organ through which venous blood filters.