Magnetic resonance imaging of the gastrointestinal tract shows reduced small bowel motility and altered chyme in cystic fibrosis compared to controls.

People with cystic fibrosis (CF) experience digestive symptoms but the mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here we explore causes and consequences of slower gastrointestinal transit using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twelve people with CF and 12 healthy controls, matched for age and gender, underwent MRI scans, both fasted and after standardised meals, over 6.5 h. Fasted small bowel motility scores were lower in CF than in controls. No difference in ascending colon chyme T1 was detected. The difference in texture between small bowel and colon contents, seen in health, was diminished in CF. The ascending colon in CF participants had an abnormal appearance compared to controls. MRI offers unique potential to evaluate gut luminal content, colonic mucosa and intestinal motor activity. These new data support the theoretical cycle of desiccation, dysmotility and delayed transit as a cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in CF.