“Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis: An Old Kid On The Block”: Report Of Three Cases And Review Of Literature

Abstract

Since the start of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic in the 1980's, respiratory diseases have been an important cause of morbidity and mortality among these patients. Majority of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients encounters a pulmonary complication during the course of their illness. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is the most common invasive fungal infection worldwide, and a major cause of mortality among immunosupressed patients despite adequate therapy. The diagnosis, although difficult to achieved, should be consider in immunosuppressed patients with fever no responding to antibiotic therapy, and those with typical findings on thoracic imaging. Whenever possible, diagnosis should be confirmed by histopathologic examination. Incidence has risen due to more intensive anticancer chemotherapy, organ transplantation, aggressive surgical interventions and prolonged survival among HIV-infected patients due to highly active antiretroviral therapy. We report 3 cases of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in severely immunocompromised hosts, in whom the diagnosis was made by autopsy.