Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Updated December 6, 2023

What's new

Added 2016 IDSA and 2011 ATS guidelines for the diagnosis and management of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.

Background

Overview

Definition

ABPA is a hypersensitivity reaction to the opportunistic mold Aspergillus, most commonly Aspergillus fumigatus.

Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of ABPA involves a dominant Th2 immune response to antigens derived from Aspergillus fumigatus. The disease is characterized by marked local and systemic eosinophilia, an adaptive immune response with elevated levels of Aspergillus fumigatus-specific IgG, IgA, and IgE antibodies, and a profound nonspecific interleukin-4-dependent elevation in total IgE.

Epidemiology

The prevalence of ABPA is estimated at around 2.5% in adult patients with asthma. The incidence of ABPA in Spain is estimated at 126 per 100,000 person-years.

Disease course

Clinically, ABPA manifests with recurring episodes of asthma, pulmonary infiltrates, and central bronchiectasis. It may progress to fibrosis if not properly managed.

Prognosis and risk of recurrence

The prognosis of ABPA is largely dependent on the severity of the disease and the patient's response to treatment. While some patients may experience a complete resolution of symptoms with appropriate treatment, others may have recurrent exacerbations or progress to more severe forms of the disease.

Guidelines

Key sources

The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA 2016) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS 2011)....

Diagnostic investigations

IgE: as per IDSA 2016 guidelines, Obtain Aspergillus IgE and total IgE for screening and to establish the diagnosis.

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Medical management

Antifungal therapy

As per IDSA 2016 guidelines:

Consider initiating oral itraconazole with therapeutic drug monitoring in symptomatic patients with asthma and bronchiectasis or mucoid impaction despite oral or ICS therapy.

Consider initiating oral itraconazole in patients with cystic fibrosis experiencing frequent exacerbations and/or falling FEV1 to minimize corticosteroid use with therapeutic drug monitoring. Consider initiating other mold-active azole therapies if therapeutic levels cannot be achieved.

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