Pancreatic extracts in the management of cystic fibrosis.

The University of Kansas group have established that pancreatic extracts, in the 
doses currently used in the management of patients with cystic fibrosis, 
cause hyperuricosuria which may occasionally be symptomatic. They correctly worry about 
long-term ill effects of such therapy. In treated CF patients the 
uricosuria results primarily from the increased dietary purine load, though the 
abnormal transport physiology in CF may contribute. Even though final evidence 
on risk is not at hand, prudence would suggest holding the 
purine load in CF patients to the minimum needed to ensure 
digestion of sufficient foodstuffs without necessarily permitting a "normal" diet sans 
steatorrhea. Alternatively, purified enzyme preparations free of the remaining sweetbread could 
eliminate the excess nucleic acid intake and be administered in a 
dosage permitting the luxury of redundant safety. 