Prevalence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis regarding time of tuberculosis diagnosis in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Data on the prevalence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) in patients with active or cured tuberculosis (TB) are scarce, mainly due to diagnostic difficulties. The diagnosis of CPA is based on pulmonary symptoms and chest computed tomography (CT) scans and is considered confirmed when there is microbiological or serological evidence of Aspergillus spp. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of CPA in patients treated or undergoing treatment for PTB, seen in two referral hospitals in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 193 consecutive patients who were treated or previously treated for pulmonary tuberculosis underwent prospective evaluation: (a) clinical evaluation; (b) chest CT scan; (c) sputum examination-culture for fungi and smears for direct mycology; (d) detection of anti-Aspergillus fumigatus antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay Platelia® test; and (e) anti-Aspergillus spp. antibodies were assessed via a DID test. RESULTS: The global prevalence of CPA was 10.9% (95% confidence interval, 7.2%-16.1%), but it increased with the time of TB diagnosis. The variables independently associated with CPA were previous pulmonary tuberculosis over 4 years ago and haemoptysis. Cavities, pleural thickening and the presence of a fungal ball were the most frequent tomographic findings in patients with CPA. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence observed and its increase over time suggest the need for continuous surveillance of CPA in patients with active or previous pulmonary tuberculosis and throughout life, with clinical, tomographic and serological evaluations (ELISA) for a timely diagnosis and a better prognosis.

Pulmonary aspergilloma in immunocompromised patients in a Respiratory Care Unit.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary aspergilloma is commonly associated with comorbidities that cause immunodeficiency such as diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and/or a pre-existing parenchymal lung disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Predisposing factors can further increase the risk of acquiring this mycosis. Our objective was to determine the frequency, clinical and microbiological characteristics of pulmonary aspergilloma in immunocompromised patients. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective case series of patients diagnosed with pulmonary aspergilloma in a respiratory care unit in Mexico City from 2000 to 2019 was studied. Bronchoalveolar lavage cultures on Sabouraud-dextrose agar and serum galactomannan determination were performed on each patient. RESULTS: We identified twenty-four patients with pulmonary aspergilloma (sixteen male and eight female), thirteen had a history of tuberculosis (54%), seven of diabetes mellitus (29%), three of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (13%) and one of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (4%). The most commonly reported symptoms were hemoptysis in eighteen patients (75%), dyspnea in sixteen patients (67%) and chest pain in thirteen patients (54%). Aspergillus fumigatus was identified in all cultures and galactomannan was positive in 21 serum samples (87%). CONCLUSIONS: Coexistence of diseases that could suppress the immune system predispose to pulmonary aspergilloma; clinical presentation is often confused with other systemic diseases. A high degree of clinical suspicion is important for early detection.

Rhino-maxillary aspergillosis in an immunocompetent patient: case report

Introduction: Aspergillosis is the second most frequent opportunistic fungal infection of the pa-ranasal sinuses. It primarily affects the maxillary sinus and occurs mainly in immunocompromi-sed individuals. Infection is caused by inhalation of spores or by an oro-sinusal communication. Aspergillosis is classified into an invasive and non-invasive form or Aspergilloma, which usually affects immunocompetent patients. Violaceous lesions, ulcers, necrosis and tissue destruction can be manifested clinically. Patients may experience pain, paresthesias, increases in the vo-lume of purulent or bloody nasal discharge and congestion. Case report: A 62-year-old female patient, immunocompetent, with a condition evolving for about six years. Condition began after a dental extraction, and consisted of absence of scarring and recurrent episodes of symptoma-tology suggestive of maxillary sinusitis with poor response to antibiotics. The patient was referred to the maxillofacial care unit, presenting an increase of volume in the right genial region, pain and paraesthesia of infraorbital region. The CT scan showed the presence of a radiopaque foreign body in the right maxillary sinus. A surgical procedure was carried out using the Caldwe-ll-Luc technique and biopsy; the case was diagnosed with Aspergillosis. The patient was treated without antifungal therapy because she had a good immune status. Conclusion: Aspergilloma is the most common form of Aspergillosis in immunocompetent individuals. It is usually diagnosed late, as its clinical picture is similar to bacterial sinusitis. In most cases, patients respond well to surgical treatment, and systemic antifungal therapy is not necessary.

Colonização intracavitária pulmonar por Aspergillus: análise de 190 casos / Pulmonary intracavitary colonization by Aspergillus: analysis of 190 cases

A colonização intracavitária pulmonar aspergilar (CIPA) é caracterizada pela presença de massa miceliana de crescimento endocavitário. O agente mais frequente é o Aspergillus fumigatus, e a lesão cavitária é geralmente sequela de tuberculose e curada com história de hemoptise de repetição e baciloscopia negativa. Os autores analisaram retrospectivamente 190 casos de CIPA, entre abril de 1978 e março de 2008, no Serviço de Arquivo Médico do Hospital Universitário Lauro Wanderley e no Complexo Hospitalar Clementino Fraga, enfatizando a incidência, forma de apresentação clínica, enfermidades associadas, métodos, diagnósticos e conduta terapêutica.

The colonized intrapulmonary aspergilloma (CIPA) is characterized by the mass fungal in a existing pulmonary cavity, where the most commonly agent is the Aspergillus fumigatus. The pulmonary cavity is often result cured pulmonary tuberculosis with hemoptisis repletion history and bacilloscopy negative. The authors analyzed retrospectively 190 cases of CIPA from April 1978 to March 2008 in the University Hospital Lauro Wanderley and Hospital Complex Clementino Fraga emphasizing the incidence, clinical evolution, illness association, diagnosis method and treatment.

Resección quirúrgica de aspergiloma en paciente inmunosuprimido: presentación de un caso clínico / Surgical resection of aspergilloma in immunosupressed patient: a case report

Aspergillosis refers to the spectrum of disease caused by Aspergillus species. The aspergilloma is the most common and best-recognized form of pulmonary involvement due to Aspergillus; usually developing in a preformed lung cavity and the principal association is with Tuberculosis. The true incidence of aspergilloma is not known. Although frequently asymptomatic, the presence of a fungus ball due to Aspergillus may cause hemoptysis and in cases can be fatal, with a variable mortality ranging between 9 to 30 percent. Aspergilloma usually comes to clinical attention as an incidental finding, thus the diagnosis involve clinical and radiological findings confirmed by pathology. There is no consistent evidence that aspergilloma. Responds to antifungal agents, and these drugs rarely achieve the minimal inhibitory concentrations within the lung cavities. Surgical resection, despite a high morbidity, is the only proven therapy for these cases.

La aspergilosis se refiere al espectro de enfermedades ocasionadas por la especie de Aspergillus. El aspergiloma es la forma más reconocida y común de la afección pulmonar relacionada a dicha especie, generalmente se desarrolla en una cavidad pulmonar pre-existente, la principal asociación es con secuelas de tuberculosis. Se desconoce la incidencia a nivel mundial. La mayoría de los pacientes se manifiestan asintomáticos; en raras ocasiones, debutan con hemoptisis mayor, con una mortalidad variable que oscila entre el 9 a 30 por ciento. El diagnóstico se basa en los hallazgos clínicos, imagenología y confirmados por patología. El tratamiento farmacológico no ha demostrado ser de gran utilidad, en tanto que, la cirugía a pesar de una elevada morbilidad podría ser el tratamiento de elección.

Fungus ball in HIV-infected patients / Bola fúngica em pacientes HIV-infectados

Aspergillus is a phagocyte opportunistic fungus that causes aspergillosis, an unusual disease in patients with AIDS. Six cases of fungal ball in patients with AIDS are reported here. In this group, all patients had hemoptysis and tuberculosis as the underlying lung disease. The diagnosis of pulmonary fungus ball was based on the clinical and radiographic feature, combined with serological and mycological evidence of Aspergillus fumigatus.

Os fungos filamentosos são oportunistas de fagócitos, motivo pelo qual aspergilose é incomum em pacientes com Aids. A apresentação clínica depende do estado imune, tamanho do inóculo fúngico e doença de base. São relatados neste trabalho seis casos de bola fúngica em pacientes com Aids. Neste grupo, todos tiveram tuberculose como doença de base e hemoptise foi o principal sintoma. O diagnóstico da bola fúngica foi através da apresentação clínica, achados radiológicos combinados com imunodifusão radial dupla, exame micológico direto e cultivo do material do trato respiratório, sendo A. fumigatus o agente isolado

Primary aspergilloma and subacute invasive aspergillosis in two AIDS patients / Aspergiloma primário e aspergilose invasiva subaguda em dois pacientes com AIDS

Although uncommon, invasive aspergillosis in the setting of AIDS is important because of its peculiar clinical presentation and high lethality. This report examines two AIDS patients with a history of severe cellular immunosuppression and previous neutropenia, who developed subacute invasive aspergillosis. One female patient developed primary lung aspergilloma, with dissemination to the mediastinum, vertebrae, and spine, which was fatal despite antifungal treatment. The second patient, who had multiple cavitary brain lesions, and eye and lung involvement, recovered following voriconazole and itraconazole, and drugs for increasing neutrophil and CD4+ lymphocyte levels. These cases demonstrate the importance of Aspergillus infections following neutropenia in AIDS patients, and emphasize the need for early and effective antifungal therapy.

A aspergilose invasiva em pacientes com aids, embora incomum, é relevante pela apresentação clínica peculiar e alta letalidade. Este relato descreve os casos de dois pacientes com aids com grave imunossupressão celular e neutropenia prévia, os quais tiveram aspergiloma pulmonar primário, com disseminação para mediastino, vértebras e medula espinhal, evoluindo para óbito apesar do tratamento antifúngico. O segundo paciente, que tinha lesões cavitárias múltiplas no cérebro e infecção ocular e pulmonar, recuperou-se após tratamento com voricanazol, itraconazol e com drogas para aumentar o número de neutrófilos e de linfócitos CD4+. Estes casos demonstram o risco de infecção por Aspergillus após episódios de neutropenia em pacientes com aids e alertam para o início precoce de terapia antifúngica eficaz.