Abstract
Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited autosomal recessive
disorder that causes chronic airway disease. In addition to genetic
factors, environmental factors may affects the clinical phenotype of CF.
In our study, the presence of aeroallergen sensitivity in our patients
with CF and its effects on clinical findings were evaluated. Materials
and Methods: Demographic characteristics, clinical and laboratory
findings, skin prick test (SPT) results, and Modified
Shwachman-Kulczycki (MSK) scores of patients diagnosed with CF followed
in the Pediatric Respiratory and Allergy Clinic of Dokuz Eylul
University Faculty of Medicine were evaluated. Results: We evaluated 51
patients with CF with a median age of 10 (6-18) years. The mean MSK
score of the patients was 72.54±11.50, and the mean predictive value of
forced expiratory volume (FEV1) in the first second of 41 patients was
80.43±19.50. According to SPT, aeroallergen sensitivity was detected in
17 (33.3%). The frequency of bacterial colonization and bronchiectasis
was higher, MSK scores were lower in AF-sensitive patients (p≤0.01).
However, there was no similar difference in other allergen
sensitivities. MSK scores and predictive FEV1 values of 25 (49%)
patients with bacterial colonization were significantly lower than those
without colonization (p=0.001, p=0.005, respectively). Conclusion:
Aeroallergen sensitivity was detected in approximately 1/3 of CF
patients. Although it has been emphasized in studies that environmental
factors may have an impact on lung functions and clinical conditions in
CF, the effect of allergens other than AF sensitivity may be less
important compared to other environmental factors such as the presence
of bacterial colonization. Keywords: Cystic fibrosis, atopy, children,
asthma, Aspergillus fumigatus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa