The incidence of anemia, hypoproteinemia, and edema in infants as presenting symptoms of cystic fibrosis: a retrospective survey of the frequency of this symptom complex in 130 patients with cystic fibrosis.

Among the total number of patients treated at the Danish National Center for cystic fibrosis during the period 1949-1980, 130 had been hospitalized during infancy. Seven of them (approximately 5%) had developed edema, hypoproteinemia, and anemia between their first and fifth month of life. All seven patients had survived for more than 1 year after the onset of the symptom complex. This finding differs markedly from observations in studies from abroad; the prognosis in children with these presenting symptoms of cystic fibrosis is generally stated as being poor. Most of the sweat electrolyte tests performed during the edema period were within the limits of normality but became elevated after the edema resolved.