CHLORIDE DEFICIENCY AS A PRESENTATION OR COMPLICATION OF CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

Thirteen children with cystic fibrosis (CF), aged 1.5 months-15 years, had 18 episodes of hypochloraemia and metabolic alkalosis over the pe riod 1983-1991. Five patients were not known to have CF prior to devel oping these electrolyte disturbances. There were two distinct clinical presentations: 5 patients had an acute isolated picture of heat exhau stion while 8 patients (all infants) had a more chronic course associa ted with failure to thrive. Many episodes were not associated with par ticularly high environmental temperatures, although most occurred duri ng the summer and early autumn months. Serum electrolytes should be as sessed regularly in children with CF, and this diagnosis should be con sidered in any infant presenting with unexplained hypochloraemic metab olic alkalosis.