Lecture 11: Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis Flashcards
what is the cystic fibrosis?
An autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which leads to defective chloride channels and hyperviscosity of exocrine gland secretions. Can result in meconium ileus, chronic respiratory infections leading to bronchiectasis, pancreatic insufficiency, and obstructive azoospermia in males. Associated with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens.
what is the most common life-shortening autosomal recessive disorder in Western Caucasian populations
CF
what are the features of CF?
- -Abnormal apical membrane chloride channel defect resulting in reduced volume and increased hyper-viscosity of mucosal secretions leading to end-organ damage.
- -It is a multisystem disorder but most commonly affects the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.
- -The majority of deaths are due to respiratory disease and failure.
- -In the past, the majority of deaths occurred in childhood. Now, most of the deaths occur in the adult patient population.
what is the most common cause of death in CF?
The majority of deaths are due to respiratory disease and failure.
what is used for sweat testing?
A laboratory test commonly used to diagnose cystic fibrosis. It involves measuring the amount of chloride in the patient’s sweat following chemical stimulation of the sweat glands with pilocarpine; chloride levels > 60 mmol/L on two or more occasions are consistent with cystic fibrosis.
immunoreactive trypsinogen is used to…
diagnose CF
A proenzyme of trypsin that accumulates in the blood of newborns with cystic fibrosis. Serum concentrations can be assessed as part of newborn screening for this condition.
what is the epidemiology of CF?
1) Second most common hereditary metabolic disorder in white populations
- -Most common lethal genetic disorder in white populations
2) Incidence
- -Non-Hispanic whites: ∼1/3300
- -1:2500 (U.S. & Continental Europe)
- -1:1700 (IRL) ~ 35-40 new PWCF/ annum
3) Heterozygote frequency among non-Hispanic whites: 1/25
4) CF gene mutation frequency
- -1:35 Continental Europe
- -1:25 U.K. Anglo Saxon descent
- -1:17 Irish Celtic descent
what is the most common mutation in CF?
- -The most common mutation is delta F508 on chromosome 7.
- -Delta F508 (ΔF508 mutation) denotes the absence of the amino acid phenylalanine (F) in position 508 of the protein (present in 70% of non-Hispanic white patients with CF).
what are the other most common mutations in CF?
G551D (11.3%), R117H (4.2%)
Delta F508 mutation results in…
absence of the amino acid phenylalanine (F) in position 508 of the protein
which amino acid is absent in mutated CFTR protein?
phenylalanine
what are the classes of mutations responsible for CF?
- -Class I: Defective synthesis
e. g.G542X, 621+1 G→T - -Class II: Defective processing
e. g. delF508 - -Class III :Defective regulation
e. g. G551D, Y569D - -Class IV :Defective conductance
e. g. R117H - -Class V :Reduced quantity
e. g. 3849+10kb→T - -Class VI: Increased turnover
what is the pathophysiology of CF?
Mutated CFTR gene (ΔF508 mutation) → misfolded protein → defective protein is retained in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (rER) for degradation → ATP-gated chloride channel is absent on the cell surface of epithelial cells throughout the body (e.g., intestinal and respiratory epithelia, sweat glands, exocrine pancreas, exocrine glands of reproductive organs)
what is the role of CFTR in sweat glans?
- -In sweat glands: The chloride channel is responsible for transporting Cl- from the lumen into the cell (reabsorption).
- -Defective ATP-gated chloride channel → inability to reabsorb Cl- from the lumen of the sweat glands → reduced reabsorption of Na+ and H2O → excessive loss of salt and elevated levels of NaCl in sweat
what is the role of CFTR in other exocrine glands?
- -In all other exocrine glands: The chloride channel is responsible for transporting Cl- from the cell into the lumen (secretion).
1) Defective ATP-gated chloride channel → inability to transport intracellular Cl- across the cell membrane → reduced secretion of Cl- → accumulation of intracellular Cl- → ↑ Na+ reabsorption (via ENaC) → ↑ H2O reabsorption → formation of hyperviscous mucus → accumulation of secretions and blockage of small passages of affected organs → chronic inflammation and remodeling → organ damage - -↑ Na+ reabsorption → transepithelial potential difference between interstitial fluid and the epithelial surface increases (i.e., becomes more negative: e.g., from normal -13 mv to abnormal -25 mv)
why in CF there is transepithelial potential difference?
Increased reabsorption of positive sodium ions into the epithelial cells results in a more negative charge on the epithelial surface, increasing the transepithelial potential difference. In patients with intact CFTR channels, positive sodium ions stay on the epithelial surface, increasing the positive epithelial charge, which decreases the potential difference.
what is the molecular biology of CF?
- -CFTR Gene mutation (Chromosome 7)
- -Cl- Channel defect
- -Defective epithelial ion transport
- -Airway surface liquid dehydration
- -Defective mucociliary clearance
- -Bacterial colonization
- -Neutrophilic inflammation
- -Panbronchiectasis
how CF is diagnosed?
1) Clinical + Hx in sibling +newborn screening
2) sweat test + positive nasal potential difference + 2 mutations
what is the clinical presentation if CF in infancy?
- -Failure to thrive
- -Meconium ileus/ intestinal obstruction
- -Testing – sibling with CF
what is the clinical presentation if CF in childhood
- -Failure to reach growth milestones
- -Recurrent chest infections
- -Abdominal cramps/diarrhea
what is the meconium ileus?
An intestinal obstruction caused by failure to pass meconium. Typically manifests in the first three days of life with abdominal distension. Can have associated vomiting. Associated with cystic fibrosis in ~ 90% of cases.
what are the features of pancreatic disease in CF?
1) Pancreatitis
2) )Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
- -Foul-smelling steatorrhea (fatty stools) may occur.
- -Malabsorption
- -Abdominal distention
- -Diarrhea
- -Deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins (e.g., night blindness due to vitamin A deficiency, rickets due to vitamin D deficiency)
3) CF-related diabetes mellitus (CFRD)
what are the liver and bile duct abnormalities of CF?
- -Cholecystolithiasis, cholestasis
- -Fatty metamorphosis of the liver, eventually progressing to liver cirrhosis
- -Biliary cirrhosis with portal hypertension
what are the clinical manifestations of CF?
- -Pan-Bronchiectasis
- -Pancreatic insufficiency
- -Nasal Polyps/Sinusitis
- -CF related Diabetes
- -CF Renal disease
- -Liver disease
- -Intestinal obstruction/ DIOS
- -CBAVD
- -Osteoporosis
what are the respiratory disease manifestations in CF?
1) Respiratory symptoms are common in adulthood.
2) Obstructive lung disease with bronchiectasis
3) Chronic sinusitis; nasal polyps may eventually develop
4) Recurrent or chronic productive cough and pulmonary infections with characteristic microorganisms
- -S. aureus is the most common cause of recurrent pulmonary infection in infancy and childhood.
- -P. aeruginosa is the most common cause of recurrent pulmonary infections in adulthood.
- -Dangerous bacteria (especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa) are easily transmitted to patients with CF → rapid decline in pulmonary function and increased risk of death (multiple antibiotic courses in their lifetime → high resistance to commonly used antibiotics!)
- -Expiratory wheezing (obstruction), barrel chest , moist rales (indicate pneumonia), hyperresonance to percussion
- -Signs of chronic respiratory insufficiency: digital clubbing associated with chronic hypoxia
5) Airway hyperreactivity (e.g., wheezing)
what bacteria most commonly cause respiratory tract diseases in childhood vs adulthood?
- -S. aureus is the most common cause of recurrent pulmonary infection in infancy and childhood.
- -P. aeruginosa is the most common cause of recurrent pulmonary infections in adulthood.