Cardiomyopathy and changes of skeletal muscles in cystic fibrosis.

Cardiomyopathy (CMP) was found in 26 children with cystic fibrosis (CF), 24 of them died, the majority of them during the first 3 years of life. Only 4 of them were older than 10 years. 2 children are living. CMP must be suspected in young children with CF and early heart failure. When CMP is the cause of sudden death, CF has to be suspected. The combination of changes in skeletal and cardiac muscles in CF is reported here for the first time.