amphotericin-b and Alveolitis--Extrinsic-Allergic

Aspergillus produces diverse pulmonary manifestations, its clinical spectrum extending from harmless saprophytic colonization to universally lethal disseminated infection. Management of the conditions produced by Aspergillus is also diverse and may consist of either observation or treatment with corticosteroid agents or amphotericin B. The factors that influence the expression of Aspergillus into a specific clinical entity are not well understood, but are believed to be related to immune status, both pulmonary and systemic, and the genetic composition of the host.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic; Amphotericin B; Antibodies, Fungal; Antifungal Agents; Aspergillosis; Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary; Aspergillus; Diagnosis, Differential; Hemoptysis; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Lung; Lung Diseases, Fungal; Radiography; Spores, Fungal; Sputum

Aspergillus may cause a wide range of clinical illnesses. In large part, manifestations depend on the status of underlying local and systemic host immunologic responses. Therefore, it is critical to specifically define the different types of aspergillosis. With such distinctions between allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, aspergilloma, and invasive aspergillosis with vasculitis, specific host factors that predispose to the development of each of these entities are becoming recognized. Understanding of such immunologic factors better explains the occurrence of clinical forms which overlap to include more than one type of aspergillosis. In general, the different types of aspergillosis have been increasingly recognized as significant health problems, though in different subpopulations of patients. Advances in knowledge of the immunopathogenesis of aspergillosis raise prospects for more rapid diagnosis as well as for successful prevention or therapy (directed toward both the host and pathogen) of diseases caused by these fungi.

Topics: Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic; Amphotericin B; Aspergillosis; Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary; Humans; Lung Diseases, Fungal

Topics: Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic; Amphotericin B; Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary; Asthma; Flucytosine; Humans