Chronic Cavitary and Fibrosing Pulmonary and Pleural Aspergillosis: Case Series, Proposed Nomenclature Change, and Review (original) (raw)

2003, Clinical Infectious Diseases

We describe 18 nonimmunocompromised patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. Duration of the disease ranged from several months to 112 years. All 18 patients had prior pulmonary disease. Weight loss, chronic cough (often with hemoptysis and shortness of breath), fatigue, and chest pain were the most common symptoms. All 18 patients had cavities, usually multiple and in 1 or both upper lobes of the lung, that expanded over time, with or without intraluminal fungal balls. All had detectable Aspergillus precipitins and inflammatory markers. Elevated levels of total immunoglobulin E were seen in 78% of patients and of Aspergillus-specific immunoglobulin E in 64%. Directed lung biopsies showed chronic inflammation, necrosis, or granulomas without hyphal invasion. Antifungal therapy with itraconazole resulted in 71% of patients improved or stabilized, with relapse common. Interferon-g treatment was useful in 3 patients. In azole nonresponders, modest responses to intravenous amphotericin B (80%) followed by itraconazole were seen. Surgery removed disease but postoperative pleural aspergillosis was inevitable. Indicators of good long-term medical outcomes were mild symptoms, thin-walled quiescent cavities, residual pleural fibrosis, and normal inflammatory markers. Aspergillus species cause a wide spectrum of illnesses in humans, including allergy, superficial infection related to local trauma, and invasive disease [1]. The lung is the most frequent site of disease. The host immune system is a major determinant of which particular form of aspergillosis develops, if any. Acute invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) affects severely immunocompromised persons [2]. Less acute invasive disease (perhaps best termed subacute IPA) has been described, notably in patients with AIDS and chronic granulomatous disease [3, 4]. Aspergilloma is another form of Aspergillus infection that has been well described, in which preexisting pulmonary cavities become colonized