TY - JOUR T1 - Association of cystic fibrosis with allergy. JF - Archives of Disease in Childhood JO - Arch Dis Child SP - 507 LP - 511 DO - 10.1136/adc.51.7.507 VL - 51 IS - 7 AU - J O Warner AU - B W Taylor AU - A P Norman AU - J F Soothill Y1 - 1976/07/01 UR - http://adc.bmj.com/content/51/7/507.abstract N2 - Immediate skin hypersensitivity to various inhalant allergens was present in 59% of 123 children with cystic fibrosis (CF), a much higher percentage than in the general population. This is consistent with the idea that atopy arises as a result of impaired handling of antigen at mucosal surfaces. The allergic CF children had more chest infections, a worse chest x-ray appearance, and lower peak expiratory flow rates. Allergic diseases were also frequent in the CF obligate heterozygotes (32% of mothers and 26% of fathers). It is suggested that the heterozygotes may also have a mucosal abnormality resulting in defective antigen handling. ER -