Cystic fibrosis and colonic strictures. A new "iatrogenic" disease.

Excessive dosage of pancreatic enzymes in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients can be associated with irreversible colonic stricture. Predisposing factors include a young age group, previous intestinal surgery, and prolonged administration of high-dose lipase products. Prestricture symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and hematochezia. Pathological signs are ischemic denudation of the epithelium with reepithelialization, mild chronic inflammation, and extensive collagen synthesis with mural fibrosis. The lesion is distinct from Crohn's disease. Its pathophysiological mechanisms remain unknown.