Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis: a review of 43 cases.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis (CNPA) is uncommon, and the optimal therapeutic regimen has not been established. In a retrospective cohort study, we investigated the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with CNPA.


METHODS
We reviewed the medical records of all patients who had been diagnosed with CNPA at our institution over the last 10 years.


RESULTS
Forty-three patients were identified. Their median age was 60 years (interquartile range (IQR) 45-65 years), and 34 (79%) of the patients were men. The most common underlying lung disease was pulmonary tuberculosis (n=40, 93%). After CNPA was diagnosed, all patients were treated with antifungal drugs, including oral itraconazole (n=39, 91%) or intravenous amphotericin B (n=4, 9%). Seventeen (40%) patients discontinued therapy early (<3 months), 14 patients due to death and three to loss of follow-up. Twenty-six (60%) patients received oral itraconazole at a daily dose of 200-400mg for more than 3 months. The median treatment duration was 6 months (IQR 6-12 months). In these 26 patients, clinical improvement was observed in 15 (58%) and radiological improvement was observed in 11 (42%). Ten (38%) patients showed no improvement. Twenty-two (51%) patients died, including 18 (42%) CNPA-related deaths, during a median follow-up of 15 months (IQR 2.5-32 months). The median survival time was 62 months.


CONCLUSIONS
CNPA is difficult to treat and often has a poor outcome. Further studies with more patients are needed to identify the optimal therapy for patients with CNPA.
Nam
Hae-Seong
HS
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jeon
Kyeongman
K
Um
Sang-Won
SW
Suh
Gee Young
GY
Chung
Man Pyo
MP
Kim
Hojoong
H
Kwon
O Jung
OJ
Koh
Won-Jung
WJ
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D055744:Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole; D000666:Amphotericin B