Allergy and bronchial hyperreactivity in cystic fibrosis [editorial].

A little-known feature of cystic fibrosis is the frequent occurrence of positive 
skin-prick tests to environmental allergies. In the normal population only about 
half those with positive prick tests actually have clinical allergic disease; 
so, are the positive skin-tests of cystic fibrosis clinically important? In 
particular, do they mean a high prevalence of asthma, overt or 
hidden, amongst these patients? A general clinical impression is that asthma 
is no more frequent amongst cystic fibrosis than in the normal 
population. The often positive skin tests, although of considerable immunological interest, 
do not necessarily imply additional clinical disease. 