Preatherosclerotic aortic lesions in cystic fibrosis.

Patients with cystic fibrosis have fat malabsorption, providing an experimental model for 
evaluation of the hypothesis that a low-fat intake may prevent atherosclerosis. 
We studied the frequency and extent of aortic precursor lesions (fatty 
streaks, early fibromusculoelastic lesions, late fibromusculoelastic lesions) found at autopsy in 
this disease as well as in other patients with debilitating disorders 
but with no apparent impairment of fat absorption. Fatty streaks were 
less common in the cystic fibrosis group, as were the late 
fibromusculoelastic lesions. There was no significant difference in the frequency, length, 
or thickness of the early fibromusculoelastic lesions. The findings suggest that 
fat may be responsible for progression but not initiation of the 
fibromusculoelastic precursor lesions, and support the concept that early restriction of 
dietary fat may prevent, delay, or otherwise modify atherosclerosis in the 
adult. 