Diagnosis and treatment of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: clinical features of eight cases and literature reviews

Abstract

Objective To study clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) . Methods Clinical data and auxiliary examinations of eight patients with ABPA were analyzed, as well as relevant literatures were reviewed. Results All patients had symptom of cough, expectoration, out of breath and wheezing tale, seven of them with history of asthma, and all of them had increased peripheral blood eosinophil (EOS) count, serum levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and lgE specific for Aspergillus fumigatus and showed positive prick test specific for Aspergillas fumigatus. Six of them showed infiltration shadows and six of them showed bronchiectasis in their chest CT images. Lung function test indicated obstructive ventilation dysfunction or mixed ventilation dysfunction with reversible airflow obstruction after administration of bronchodilator. Conclusions Diagnosis for ABPA should be made by integration of clinical features, increased blood eosinophil count and serum level of IgE, and result of prick test specific for Aspergillus fumigatus. Corticosteroid is a mainstay therapy for ABPA, ancillary with anti-fungi therapy. Patients with ABPA should be followed-up to prevent its recurrence. Key words: Aspergillosis fumigatus; Hypersensitivity; Asthma