Expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis(2022 update)

Abstract

As an allergic lung disease caused by Aspergillus species, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis(ABPA) is manifested by asthma and recurrent lung infiltrates, often with signs of bronchiectasis. ABPA is not uncommon, but under-diagnosis/misdiagnosis and inappropriate management are common in clinical practice, due to the varied manifestations, inconsistent diagnostic criteria, and the need of complicated laboratory studies. To improve the diagnosis and treatment of ABPA, experts of the Asthma Group of Chinese Thoracic Society proposed an expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of ABPA in 2017 (1 st Edition). Its publication has been well received by the Chinese physicians, and promoted the appropriate management of the disease. In the past 5 years, advances have been made in the investigation into the mechanisms, and in the diagnosis and therapy of ABPA, including novel insight into the pathogenesis, more studies of the diagnostic criteria, and more evidence on the efficacy of glucocorticoid, antifungal and/or biologic therapies. Based on new evidence and the clinical practice in China, experts of the Asthma Group of Chinese Thoracic Society updated the consensus.