Pulmonary aspergillosis: Recent advances

George R. Thompson, Thomas F. Patterson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aspergillosis remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The spectrum of disease is diverse and ranges from noninvasive disease with an excessive immune response, such as in allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), to a lack of an immune response as seen in patients with quantitative or qualitative granulocyte deficits and subsequent invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Noninvasive diagnostic testing has improved the time to initiation of effective antifungal therapy, and numerous agents in different therapeutic classes are now available as treatment options. Voriconazole remains the preferred agent in the treatment of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, and recent data have increased interest in the potential of combination therapy against this often lethal infection. The role of host genetics in selecting patients that may benefit from more aggressive antifungal prophylaxis or treatment practices remains unclear but is likely to guide therapeutic choices as newer data become available.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)673-681
Number of pages9
JournalSeminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Volume32
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011

Keywords

  • Aspergillosis
  • aspergilloma
  • chronic cavitary aspergillosis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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