Chronic Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Patients with Underlying Respiratory Disorders in Cuba-A Pilot Study

• Published in: Journal of fungi (Basel) Vol. 5; no. 1; p. 18
• Main Authors: Beltrán Rodríguez, Nathalie, San Juan-Galán, Javier Luis, Fernández Andreu, Carlos Manuel, María Yera, Dulce, Barrios Pita, Miriam, Perurena Lancha, Mayda Rosa, Velar Martínez, Rosario Esperanza, Illnait Zaragozí, María Teresa, Martínez Machín, Gerardo Félix
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 22.02.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: Antibodies; Aspergillosis; Aspergillus; Bacterial infections; cavities; Chronic illnesses; Chronic infection; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Clinical isolates; diagnosis; IgG; Immunoglobulin G; Infectious diseases; Itraconazole; Lung cancer; Morbidity; Patients; Respiratory diseases; Serology; Species; Tuberculosis; Cuba; IgG; diagnosis; itraconazole; cavities; aspergillosis
• ISSN: 2309-608X; 2309-608X
• DOI: 10.3390/jof5010018

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a fungal infection with high mortality and morbidity rates. This disease is caused by several species and affects patients with an underlying respiratory condition. This pilot study aims to recognize CPA among patients with different respiratory diseases. Twenty-one out of 47 patients were classified as CPA based on the examination of clinical signs and symptoms, radiological findings, mycological culture of respiratory samples and analysis of IgG antibodies. There was a close association between high levels of IgG antibodies and the presence of cavities. Although was the predominant species among clinical isolates, the number of isolates was small to reach conclusions on the prevalence of this species as main cause of CPA in Cuba. From the eleven evaluable patients for the treatment with itraconazole (Lozartil ), nine improved their health status while two did not show any recovery. This drug is included in the therapy schemes for aspergillosis in Cuba.