Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.
In susceptible patients, invasive aspergillosis has a high incidence and a mortality of up to 80%. The diagnosis of this condition is difficult, especially in the early stages of the disease and, as a consequence, antifungal therapy, despite its expense and toxicity, is often initiated empirically. Until recently, there were very few effective antifungal agents for established invasive aspergillosis, but the introduction of two new drugs, voriconazole and caspofungin, has increased the treatment options. These newer antifungal therapies, combined with improved early diagnosis due to the introduction of newer microbiologic techniques, offer the hope that there will be a significant improvement in the substantial morbidity and mortality associated with invasive aspergillosis over the next 5 years.
Doffman
S R
SR
Barts & the London NHS Trust, West Smithfield, London, EC1A 7BE, UK. s.doffman@qmul.ac.uk
Agrawal
S G
SG
Brown
Jeremy S
JS
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001229:Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy
D000935:Antifungal Agents