Master Cystic Fibrosis Symptoms and Complications with Picmonic for Physician Assistant

Bronchioles often become distended with thick mucus, with hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the mucus secreting cells. Along with superimposed infections, patients often develop chronic bouts of bronchitis.

The pathogenesis of nasal polyps is mostly unknown, but it is understood that in the nasal mucosa oedemetous fluid collects, causing polypoidal change, sometimes leading to metaplastic changes in the epithelium. This is highly associated with CF, along with other pathologies.

Due to accumulation and plugging of mucus in the small ducts of the pancreatic exocrine glands, patients may experience pancreatic atrophy and fibrosis. This leads to pancreatic insufficiency and digestive problems.

A common finding in newborns with CF is intestinal obstruction. Meconium ileus is the stasis of newborn's meconium, which is not passed in the first 24-hours of life.

Due to pancreatic insufficiency, many patients experience malabsorption and diarrhea, and often steatorrhea.

With impaired pancreatic exocrine function, patients have impaired fat absorption, which leads to avitaminosis and possible deficiencies in fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K).

As bile canaliculi are plugged with mucinous material, portal inflammation, and later, hepatic steatosis may occur. Many patients can develop biliary cirrhosis and diffuse hepatic nodularity.

95% of males who survive to adulthood with CF are infertile. This is often because of a congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens.