Abstract
Background: The pathogenesis of gut inflammation, bacterial dysbiosis and increased rates of malignancy in CF is unclear. Fecal M2-pyruvate kinase (M2-PK) is a biomarker indicative of cellular proliferation that may be raised in intestinal malignancy and inflammation. Biomarkers, including M2-PK, may be useful in assessing effects of novel therapies on the gastrointestinal tract.
Methods: M2-PK was measured in stools collected from patients with CF and HC (0-10 years). Linear mixed model analysis was used.
Results: M2-PK levels did not significantly change in children with CF (36 patients, 77 samples) (P = 0.998) or HC (45 patients, 45 samples) (P = 0.21), over the age range 0-10 years. Patients with CF had elevated M2-PK compared to HC (median [IQR; range]: 10.7 [5.7-28.6; 1.0-239.1] (n = 77) vs. 1.0 [1.0-1.0; 1.0-50.0] (n = 45) U/mL, respectively; P = 0.001).
Conclusions: Fecal M2-PK was elevated in children with CF compared with HC during infancy and throughout childhood suggesting abnormalities in the CF gut exist in early life. (C) 2017 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.