Pathological confirmation of foetal cystic fibrosis following prenatal diagnosis.

Abstract

Here we report on the results of histopathological analysis of several organs of 5 foetuses and 2 newborn infants with cystic fibrosis. They were examined with HE, PAS, AB, HID and "Stains-all" techniques on paraffin sections. We concluded that there were significant differences in the epithelial mucin composition of several organs of the effected foetuses compared to 6 controls as early as the 17th week of gestation. An increase in the amount of neutral and acidic mucins was observed in the acini of the pancreas, bronchi and the mucosa of the gastrointestinal tract accompanied with a well defined decrease of sialic acid rich components of pharyngeal submucosal glands.