title: Serum antibodies to Aspergillus fumigatus catalase in patients with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: Seven to ten percent of patients with cystic fibrosis had serum antibodies to the catalase antigen of Aspergillus fumigatus in three cross-sectional surveys between 1977 and 1984. A total of 208 patients participated at least once, and the cumulated frequency of catalase antibodies in 94 patients included in all three surveys was 16%. The titre range was 1 to 16. The prevalence rate of Aspergillus fumigatus in sputum was 50% for a 2.5-year observation period. Catalase antibodies were strongly associated with the occurrence of Aspergillus fumigatus in sputum (p = 0.003), and the microorganism was more numerous in colonized patients with catalase antibodies than in those without such antibodies (p = 0.004). Patients with Aspergillus fumigatus in sputum and a positive catalase antibody test tended to have an adverse development as regards lung function compared to both carriers without antibodies and non-carriers. The observed differences could not, however, be related to different rates of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000032:analysis*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology; D002374:Catalase / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000150:complications; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal; D002374:Catalase