Pregnancy in cystic fibrosis: a better prognosis in patients with pancreatic function?

Abstract

Pregnancy in patients with cystic fibrosis is likely to become a more common occurrence as a result of improving survival rates in females with this condition. Eleven pregnancies in seven patients with cystic fibrosis are presented. Despite previous reports on the hazards of pregnancy in women with cystic fibrosis, only one pregnancy required a therapeutic abortion to preserve the health of the mother. Nine of the pregnancies occurred in five mothers who had no pancreatic insufficiency, and no significant deterioration in pulmonary function occurred during or after pregnancy. These patients who do not require pancreatic enzyme supplementation appear to represent a special subgroup within cystic fibrosis in whom not only pulmonary function but also the overall prognosis is better, and in whom pregnancy can be tolerated without undue hazard.