title: Pseudomembranous Aspergillus tracheobronchitis: a potential for high mortality in low-risk patients.
abstract: Pseudomembranous Aspergillus tracheobronchitis (PMATB) is a relatively uncommon form of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. PMATB is characterized by necrosis and sloughing of the respiratory epithelium resulting from the invasion of the tracheobronchial mucosa by Aspergillus species. The prognosis for patients with PMATB and underlying immune compromise is poor, but existing data suggest that the outcome of PMATB occurring in patients without overt immune compromise is favorable. To investigate the clinical features and prognosis for immunocompetent patients with PMATB in the study center, 10 patients with histologically and microbiologically confirmed PMATB lacking overt immune compromise over a 9-year period were retrospectively identified. Although all patients ultimately received systemic antifungal therapy, 4 patients required mechanical ventilation and 3 patients died. This report indicates that PMATB occurring in immunocompetent patients may exhibit an aggressive course, with rapid progression of lung parenchymal involvement and a fatal outcome.
authors: Department of Respiratory Medicine (YL, FY, CC, MY, JY, YZ, CC), the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, China; and Department of Medicine and Microbiology (CP), Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana.
authors: Yuping
authors: Y
authors: Li
authors: Fangyou
authors: F
authors: Yu
authors: Chris
authors: C
authors: Parsons
authors: Chengshui
authors: C
authors: Chen
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Ye
authors: Junru
authors: J
authors: Ye
authors: Yin
authors: Y
authors: Zhou
authors: Chang
authors: C
authors: Cai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001230:Aspergillus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D055744:Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents