Short CommunicationNon-allergic asthma as a CFTR-related disorder

BackgroundCFTR dysfunction can be involved in CBAVD, pancreatitis or bronchiectasis.MethodsSubjects with cystic fibrosis-like disease, equivocal sweat chloride concentrations and no or one disease-causing CFTR mutation were investigated by intestinal current and/or nasal potential difference measurements.ResultsA subgroup of female patients who had been diagnosed to suffer from non-allergic asthma showed intermediary chloride concentrations in sweat test, normal chloride secretory responses in the intestine and an abnormal nasal potential difference with Sermet scores in the cystic fibrosis range.ConclusionNon-allergic asthma is a clinical entity that may be associated with CFTR dysfunction of the respiratory epithelium.