People living with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) homozygous for F508del present more
severe phenotypes. PwCF with compound heterozygous genotypes F508del /A455E and
F508del /L206W may have milder cystic fibrosis (CF) phenotypes. We compared
F508del homozygotes and common compound heterozygotes (F508del and a second
pathogenic variant) in adult patients. Nutritional, pulmonary function and
glucose homeostasis indices data were collected from the prospective Montreal CF
cohort. Two-hundred and three adults with CF having at least one F508del variant
were included. Individuals were divided into subgroups: homozygous
F508del/F508del (n=149); F508del/621+1G>T (n=17); F508del/711+1G>T (n=11);
F508del/A455E (n=12); and F508del/L206W (n=14). Subgroups with the F508del/L206W
and F508del/A455E had a lower proportion with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency
(p<0.0001), a higher fat mass (p<0.0001), and lower glucose area under the
curve (AUC) (p=0.027). The F508del/L206W subgroup had significantly higher
insulin secretion (AUC; p=0.027) and body mass index (p<0.001). Pulmonary
function (FEV1) was significantly higher for the F508del/L206W subgroup
(p<0.0001). Over a median of 7.37 years, the risk of developing CFRD in 141
patients was similar between groups. PwCF with heterozygous F508del/L206W and
F508del/A455E tended to have pancreatic exocrine sufficiency, better nutritional
status, improved pulmonary function and better diabetogenic indices, but this
does not translate into lower risk of CF-related Diabetes.