Title:Liver and Pancreatic Disease in Cystic Fibrosis: Clinics and Drug Therapy
Volume: 3
Issue: 2
Author(s): Carla Colombo*, Gianfranco Alicandro, Fabiola Corti and Massimo Conese
Affiliation:
- Cystic Fibrosis Center, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Della Commenda 9, 20122 Milan,Italy
Keywords:
Cystic fibrosis, liver disease, pancreatic insufficiency, CFTR, lung failure, gastrointestinal pathophysiology.
Abstract: Abnormal functioning of the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Transmembrane Conductance Regulator
(CFTR) channel impairs mucociliary clearance and promotes chronic bacterial infections in the lung of
CF patients. Progressive lung destruction leads to lung failure, the main cause of premature death in CF
patients. However, impaired CFTR functioning affects also the pancreas and the liver with well recognized
gastrointestinal manifestations that often develop early in life and contribute to the clinical deterioration.
Novel therapies are under evaluation in the context of the extensive research on CF liver and
gastrointestinal pathophysiology. In this review, pathological mechanisms and clinical manifestations of
liver disease and pancreatic insufficiency are described with attention to future therapeutic development.
