Recent advance of the diagnosis and treatment of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Abstract

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is an immunologic pulmonary disorder caused by hypersensitivity to Aspergillus fumigatus,most often occurring in a patient with asthma or cystic fibrosis.Diagnostic criteria include clinica manifestations of chronic asthma,recurrent pulmonary infiltrates with bronchiectasis,serum eosinophilia,elevated serum total IgE and Aspergillus fumigatus skin test positive,etc.Because many patients with ABPA may be minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic,a high index of suspicion for ABPA should be maintained while managing any patient with asthma,and further screening Aspergillus fumigatus by skin testing to prevent misdiagnosis.Early recognition allows treatment with corticosteroids,which are effective but may be required indefinitely,and combined hormone with newer antifungal azoles may be more effective.This review summarizes the advances in the diagnosis and management of ABPA. Key words: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis ; Asthma ; Aspergillus