Influence of lyophilized total pancreas on plasma lipids and on fat absorption in cystic fibrosis.

31 children with cystic fibrosis (CF) subdivided into three groups of age 
were studied before and after treatment with lyophilized pancreas and compared 
to 27 controls. CF was characterized by lower phospholipid, cholesterol and 
polyunsaturated fatty acid plasma concentrations and reduced coefficient of fat absorption. 
Treatment tended towards normalization of these values. With age polyunsaturated fatty 
acids increased in normals but not in CF. The significant correlations 
existing between fat absorption coefficient and polyunsaturated fatty acid percentage in 
neutral lipids of CF children suggests the use of the latter 
percentage as index of the stage of malabsorption. 