Classes of skin fibroblast metachromasia in cystic fibrosis correlated with lung function tests.

Lung function tests were conducted in 35 patients with cystic fibrosis and 
correlated to class of skin fibroblast metachromasia. Seven patients belonged to 
class I (vesticular metachromasia), 16 to class II (generalized metachromasia), and 
12 to class III (no metachromasia). Class I patients had significantly 
lower vital capacity (VC) than class II patients. As regards the 
other lung function tests, no general trends were found in class 
I patients compared with the other two classes. For class III 
patients the lung function tests reflected more serious lung changes than 
those of class II patients; statistically significant differences were found as 
regards residual volume/total lung capacity, one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), and 
FEV1/VC. The differences were not due to varying intensity of treatment. 
The results are in accordance with the findings in a previous 
study of the clinical and radiological lung symptoms and serum protein 
values in CF when correlated to metachromatic classes. 