title: Successful non-standard approaches to massive hemoptysis in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IA) is the most frequent invasive fungal infection in patients with hematological malignancies. Massive hemoptysis (MH) with blood loss more than 300-600 ml in 24 hours is a rare (5-10% of IA patients) but frequently fatal complication. Standard treatment of MH, such as oxygenation, a semi-sitting position with the bleeding site down, bronchoscopical suctioning, antifungal therapy, transfusion support and surgical resection might be either ineffective or not feasible in some cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report two patients with life threatening, non-controlled, massive hemoptysis who were successfully managed by non-standard measures. A 61-year-old male with acute myeloid leukemia developed pulmonary IA and massive hemoptysis after consolidation cure by chemotherapy. The bleeding site was localized in the VI lung segment by bronchoscopy. Local application of fibrinogen-thrombin concentrate (fibrin glue) stopped the bleeding. A 22-year-old female patient with the diagnosis of severe aplastic anemia developed IA and massive hemoptysis early after application of immunosuppressive therapy (antilymphocyte globulin, cyclosporine and corticosteroids). Conventional transfusion therapy, desmopresine and antifibrinolytics were ineffective. This urgent condition was successfully treated with human activated recombinant factor VII (rFVIIa, NovoSeven).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience together with data from the available literature suggests a potential benefit of fibrinogen-thrombin concentrate and rFVIIa in the treatment of refractory critical bleeding in hemato-oncological patients.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Hematology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia. mmg@beotel.net
authors.forename: Mirjana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitrović
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Elezović
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suvajdzić-Vuković
authors.forename: Darko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Antić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005167:Factor VII / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000628:therapy*; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D055744:Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D006490:Hemostatics; D005167:Factor VII