A report of a successfully treated case of ABPA in an HIV-infected individual.
Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous fungus responsible for a variety of pulmonary diseases, ranging from infection of a pre-existing cavity as in aspergilloma to highly invasive disease in immunocompromised hosts. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a hypersensitivity response mounted against antigens of A. fumigatus manifesting as poorly controlled asthma and bronchiectasis. Although ABPA is not uncommon, occurrence of ABPA in HIV-affected individuals is distinctly rare. We describe the occurrence of ABPA in a 35-year-old woman with poorly controlled asthma since childhood and HIV-1 infection of 11 years duration. This is the second documented case of ABPA in a HIV-affected individual, and the first reported case to be successfully managed with antifungal therapy alone. We also discuss the complex management issues involved in treating ABPA in HIV-affected individuals.
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Valliappan
V
Muthu
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Ritesh
R
Agarwal
D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001229:Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000906:Antibodies; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole; D007073:Immunoglobulin E