Single nucleotide polymorphisms related to cystic fibrosis in chronic rhinositus—a pilot study

Background

The clinical association between cystic fibrosis (CF) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is well known. Studies have identified several non-CF transmembrane conductance regulator single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with disease severity in CF patients. We hypothesized that prevalence of these SNPs would be different between CRS patients and age/gender-matched non-CRS controls.

Methods

This is a targeted SNP study of 1231 CRS patients identified through a large university hospital database who were compared with 8796 age- and gender-matched controls without a history of rhinitis, sinusitis, allergies, or asthma. Prevalence of 5 relevant SNPs was compared between groups, with p < 0.05 considered significant. Stratification by race and gender was performed among groups when statistically appropriate.

Results

CRS patients exhibited a statistically significant (p = 0.036) lower prevalence of rs12883884 (associated with an ion transporter) compared with controls. This association was lost when patients were stratified by race. CRS patients manifested a greater prevalence of rs1403543 (chromosome 23) in both Caucasian and African American subgroups (p = 0.036 and p = 0.026, respectively). Statistical significance disappeared among Caucasians when stratified by gender, but persisted among African American women (p = 0.047). rs12188164 and rs12793173 were both more prevalent in African Americans with CRS than controls (p = 0.042 and p = 0.020, respectively). A trend was also observed for decreased prevalence of rs12883884 in CRS patients compared with controls in the African American subgroup (p = 0.086).

Conclusion

The identified SNPs were differentially prevalent in CRS compared with control groups, with some variability as a function of race and gender. Further research is required to confirm these findings and elucidate clinical significance.

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