Whole blood fatty acid analysis with micromethod in cystic fibrosis and pulmonary disease.

OBJECTIVES: To assess fatty acid (FA) profiles in whole blood of 90 cystic fibrosis patients (CF) and 30 control subjects (C) and to correlate FA changes to the severity of respiratory disease. METHODS: Whole blood FA were assessed by GC with a micromethod-based analysis. RESULTS: Saturated and monounsaturated FA are higher, whereas polyunsaturated FA are lower in CF versus C with reduction of total n-6 FA, 22:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 (DHA). The product of linoleic acid (LA) x DHA, proposed as a marker for the disease, is 30% lower in CF than in C. Correlations with the severity of the respiratory disease are present for different FA and for the LA x DHA product. There is a reduction of Delta5 desaturase activity in CF, greater in severe disease, suggesting a basic metabolic alteration. CONCLUSIONS: The micromethod-based analysis of blood FA facilitates the assessment of the FA status while confirming alterations of FA profiles already reported in specific blood compartments of CF.