The clinical and laboratory correlates of nasal polyps in cystic fibrosis.

The clinical histories, chest X-ray appearances, skin prick test results, pulmonary function and IgE levels of 20 patients with cystic fibrosis (C.F.) complicated by nasal polyps have been compared with those of 97 C.F. controls. The patients who had developed polyps had a different clustering of symptoms to the controls with heavier birthweights, later presentations, milder gastrointestinal symptoms in infancy, less infection with Staphylococcus aureus and better vital capacities. There was no evidence on history, skin testing or IgE levels that the polyps patients were more allergic. It is likely, therefore, that nasal polyps in C.F. are due to a primary effect of the C.F. gene, although they could also be the effect of chronic nasal infection.