Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in cystic fibrosis

One hundred patients with CF were screened for ABPA. Forty-eight male patients and 52 female patients with an age range of 2 to 34 yr (mean 14.2) were studied. Patients were evaluated for skin reactivity and serum precipitating antibodies to Af, predominant sputum organisms, total blood eosinophil levels, total serum IgE, and Af-specific IgE and IgG, as well as abnormalities of pulmonary function and chest x-ray films. Careful evaluation of all patients with CF demonstrated that 10% had features indicative of ABPA, which is another potentially destructive pulmonary disorder. Thus careful evaluation of patients with CF, especially those with asthma, may be rewarding in uncovering a disorder that may slow progression of CF when it is appropriately treated.