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. 2022 Jan;10(1):60-69.
doi: 10.1002/iid3.540. Epub 2021 Sep 27.

Characterising the allergic profile of children with cystic fibrosis

Amy L Faulkner  1 , Michael Grayling  2 , Benjamin Shillitoe  3 , Malcolm Brodlie  4   5 , Louise J Michaelis  2   3
Affiliations

Characterising the allergic profile of children with cystic fibrosis

Amy L Faulkner et al. Immun Inflamm Dis. 2022 Jan.

Abstract

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition that affects multiple organ systems. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a well-recognised problem but other allergic conditions are less well documented in CF.

Objective: To characterise the allergic profile of a cohort of children with CF, with a focus on those with ABPA.

Methods: A cohort of children with CF were interviewed and retrospective data were collected regarding their allergic histories and other relevant clinical features.

Results: The cohort included 37 children with median age of 9 years (interquartile range: 6-12). There was a history of ≥1 allergic condition(s) in 28/37 children (76%). The most common allergic condition was allergic rhinitis (AR) in 21/37 (57%) and 16 of these 21 children (76%) had another allergic condition. All children with ABPA (8) had another allergic condition. In some children ABPA exacerbations appeared to be seasonal, suggesting possible cross-sensitisation between Aspergillus fumigatus and aeroallergens associated with seasonal AR. Allergic conditions were also common in children with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.

Keywords: Aspergillus; allergic rhinitis; cystic fibrosis; hypersensitivity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Malcolm Brodlie reports investigator‐led research grants from Pfizer and Roche Diagnostics; speaker fees paid to Newcastle University from Novartis, TEVA and Roche Diagnostics and travel expenses to educational meetings from Boehringer Ingelheim and Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Louise J. Michaelis reports investigator‐led research grants from Danone and Sanofi; Speaker fees paid to Newcastle University from Danone and Sanofi, advisory board and travel expenses to educational meetings from Danone, Novartis, Allergy Therapeutics and Sanofi Pharmaceuticals. The other authors have no conflict of interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of the main five allergic conditions in the study cohort. IgE, immunoglobulin E; PAR, perennial allergic rhinitis; PARwe, perennial allergic rhinitis with seasonal exacerbation; SAR, seasonal allergic rhinitis
Figure 2
Figure 2
Allergic timelines for six children with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in the study cohort. In the United Kingdom peak months for silver birch pollen are February to April, tree pollen April to June, grass pollen June to August and house dust mite in Autumn and Winter. ABPA, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; HDM, house dust mite; IgE, immunoglobulin E, SpIgE, specific immunoglobulin E.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Allergic timelines for six children with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in the study cohort. In the United Kingdom peak months for silver birch pollen are February to April, tree pollen April to June, grass pollen June to August and house dust mite in Autumn and Winter. ABPA, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis; HDM, house dust mite; IgE, immunoglobulin E, SpIgE, specific immunoglobulin E.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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