Paternity in men with cystic fibrosis: a retrospective survey in France☆

Abstract 

Background

Because more patients reach adulthood, new questions as “what about having a child and/or paternity responsibility?” arose.

Method

We performed a retrospective investigation based on the French CF registry. The context of the paternity and the health status of fathers were recorded. A comparison with clinical status of non-father patients and a compilation of follow-up data to evaluate its impact were done.

Results

Forty-eight men had 69 children. One fourth was said to be natural conceptions, 69% needed assisted reproduction techniques. No child had CF. Clinical status of men was satisfactory: mean BMI was 20.9 kg/m² and mean FEV₁ and FVC were 50.5% and 69.2% of predicted, respectively. When matched to CF non-fathers, few significant differences appeared. More non-fathers were F508del/F508del (p=0.03). Fathers' sputum cultures were positive for non-Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain (p=0.05), including Staphylococcus aureus (p=0.01). Mean age at diagnosis was higher, and based on minor evidence of sterility as first symptom leading to the diagnosis of CF (p=0.01) or aspergillosis (p=0.03). The 3-year follow-up showed no degradation of the clinical status.

Conclusion

Men having paternity responsibility over children did not differ from the CF male population and neither did it seem to have an impact on the disease course.

Keywords: Cystic fibrosis, Paternity, Clinical status, Clinical impact