Prevalence of pulmonary aspergillosis among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients presented with acute exacerbation

Abstract

Introduction Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is a major event through the life of all chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. This study was designed to assess the prevalence of pulmonary aspergillosis among COPD patients presented with acute exacerbation. Patients and methods A cross-sectional study was withheld and recruited 20 patients diagnosed with AECOPD who were admitted in the respiratory care unit (RCU). Sociodemographic data were recorded. All patients had undergone chest radiography together with serum galactomannan (GM) assay in order to detect pulmonary aspergillosis. Results Twenty patients diagnosed with AECOPD were admitted to the RCU, among which 30% of them died along their course of RCU stay. Of these patients, one-third was found to have pulmonary aspergillosis using serum GM. Serum GM showed no difference among patients who died compared with survived subjects; however, it was significantly higher among patients diagnosed with pulmonary aspergillosis. Using steroids in the past 3 months was not a risk factor for positive aspergillosis, whereas patients with the increased number of exacerbations showed an increased risk for aspergillosis. Conclusion Pulmonary aspergillosis is considered as one of the risk factors of AECOPD being detected among 20% of all studied patients. Frequent exacerbations are associated with pulmonary aspergillosis among COPD patients. Serum GM antigen is used as a marker of positive aspergillosis; however, it did not differ much among the patients who died; therefore, it could not be used as a marker of mortality among AECOPD patients.