Observations on Cystic Fibrosis of the Pancreas

Abstract

Dilatation of apocrine glands with retained secretions was found in nearly one third of autopsied patients with cystic fibrosis. The changes were most severe and frequent (eight of 13) in children over 7 years of age. Less marked alterations were found to be significantly less common in a control group of unaffected infants and children. Histochemical techniques were used to demonstrate the presence of neutral and acid mucopolysaccharides, including both sulfomucins and carboxymucins. No qualitative difference in staining reactions was detected between patients with cystic fibrosis and control cases. In spite of the similarity to other lesions in cystic fibrosis, the significance of the apocrine changes in these affected children is unknown because of their frequency in normal adults.