Fatty-acid composition of serum-lecithins in cystic-fibrosis patients without steatorrhoea [letter].

We have investigated the fatty-acid composition of serum-lecithins from four groups of 
C.F. patients, defined by their pancreatic function evaluated by 72-h quantitative 
stool fat and determination of the coefficient of fat absorption. C.F. 
patients without pancreatic insufficiency and not on pancreatic extract had significantly 
higher percentages of linoleic acid than did patients of any other 
group. The altered fatty-acid composition of serum-lipid fractions seems to be 
a secondary consequence of the pancreatic insufficiency commonly associated with C.F. 
disease and not a direct metabolic defect as some have suggested. 
