Characterization of CFTR mutations in people with cystic fibrosis and severe liver disease who are not eligible for CFTR modulators

Abstract

Cystic-fibrosis-related liver disease (CFLD) is a variable phenotype of CF. The severe CFLD variant with cirrhosis or portal hypertension has a poor prognosis and life expectancy. CFTR modulator therapies are now available for people with CF and eligibility for such treatment is based on their CFTR genotype. We evaluated the genetic eligibility for elexacaftor, tezacaftor, ivacaftor (ETI), and ivacaftor (IVA) monotherapy in a previously reported CF cohort of 1591 people with CF of whom 171 with severe CFLD. Based on their CFTR mutations, 13% (N=184/1420) of subjects without CFLD and 11% (N=19/171) of those with severe CFLD are not eligible for either ETI or IVA therapy. The non-eligible patients without CFLD or with severe CFLD can currently not take advantage of the potential benefits of these new treatments. Although this study cannot provide any data regarding the effect of ETI or IVA on the progression of severe CFLD, the consequences for ineligibility of patients with extreme liver phenotype may be even more significant because of their poorer disease risk profile.

Keywords: CFTR genotype; CFTR modulators; Cirrhosis; Cystic fibrosis; Liver disease; Portal hypertension.