Cystic fibrosis and pregnancy in the modern era: A case control study

BackgroundIncreasingly, women with cystic fibrosis become pregnant. Outcomes of these women need further study particularly in the setting of improved survival in CF.MethodsWe performed a case-control study of pregnant CF women including 22 matched pairs with an average follow-up of 4.5 years. Nutritional outcomes, changes in lung function, and exacerbation rates were compared.ResultsMatched pairs were similar in age, sweat chloride, FEV1 and FVC % predicted, BMI, and diabetes status. Change in BMI, FEV1 and FVC % predicted at the end of pregnancy and at last follow-up were similar between groups. Moreover, rates of exacerbation before, during and after pregnancy were similar. On multivariable analysis pregnancy had no effect on change in lung function over the study period. Significant predictors of decline included higher pre-pregnancy lung function and pancreatic insufficiency.ConclusionsPregnancy does not lead to immediate or medium-term adverse effects for CF patients.