Hypoproteinemia and anemia in infants with cystic fibrosis. A presenting symptom complex often misdiagnosed.

Infants with cystic fibrosis occasionally may present with a symptom complex of 
anemia, hypoproteinemia, and edema. Case reports of seven infants between the 
ages of 1 to 4 months who developed these abnormalities indicate 
that in several instances the children's condition was misdiagnosed as milk-sensitivity 
or milk-allergy. Furthermore, their case histories verify that their hypoalbuminemia and 
anemia is nutritional and is corrected when a readily absorbed diet 
with pancreatic-enzyme supplement is given. A retrospective review of feeding histories 
of 100 infants with cystic fibrosis, as well as these case 
reports, indicate that affected children who are breast-fed or fed with 
soy-based formulas are more likely to develop the syndrome. 