Abstract:
Background: Cystic fibrosis has been largely under-diagnosed and thus, limited data is available on the incidence
of cystic fibrosis in Sri Lanka. Our aim is to describe the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of children with cystic
fibrosis in Sri Lanka.
Case presentation: This report describes 10 unrelated cystic fibrosis cases with phenotypic features of cystic
fibrosis and abnormal or intermediate sweat tests. The most common phenotypic features in this sample of
symptomatic patients were persistent or recurrent lower respiratory tract infections, failure to thrive and PseudoBartter syndrome. Altogether 7 cystic fibrosis causing mutations were identified in 10 patients. Except delta F508
which is the commonest mutation worldwide all the other mutations detected in Sri Lankan patients are rare
mutations. 1161delC and V456A detected in our patients are South Asian mutations. The other mutations such as
[C.1282C > G; C.2738A > G], C.53 + 1G > C, 2184insA and a deletion encompassing exons 4 to 11 have been
reported previously from European patients with cystic fibrosis.
Conclusion: These cases highlight the importance of considering the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis in children and
young adults presenting with persistent respiratory tract infections associated with severe malnutrition and PseudoBartter syndrome, especially in low income countries where newborn screening for cystic fibrosis is not available.
The spectrum of CFTR mutations in Sri Lanka is heterogeneous and possibly linked to genetic flow from Indian
subcontinent and Europe. The common mutations should be identified by sequencing the entire CFTR gene in
adequate number of cystic fibrosis patients in order to design a mutation panel for common regional mutations.
