Clinical and serological survey of pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with cystic fibrosis

Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol. 1988;85(4):472-7. doi: 10.1159/000234554.

Abstract

A 5.5-year survey revealed 9 patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and 1 patient with a highly probable diagnosis among 200 Danish patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The incidence of ABPA was 0.9 (0.4-1.7, 95% confidence limits) per 100 patients per year. All the patients with definite or probable ABPA had serum antibodies to the Aspergillus fumigatus catalase antigen, and in 5 patients the appearance of catalase antibodies during the incipient phase of ABPA was documented. 29 patients without ABPA also had catalase antibodies, but in lower levels than ABPA patients (p = 0.006). The 6-month prevalence rate of A. fumigatus in sputum was 80 and 72% in the 2 groups, respectively. The finding of catalase antibodies in some CF patients without ABPA may indicate the occurrence of a symptom-poor form of pulmonary aspergillosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibodies / analysis
  • Antigens, Fungal / immunology
  • Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / complications
  • Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / epidemiology
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / immunology
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / isolation & purification
  • Catalase / immunology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cystic Fibrosis / complications*
  • Denmark
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Precipitin Tests
  • Pseudomonas Infections / complications
  • Sputum / microbiology

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Antigens, Fungal
  • Catalase