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Pulmonary aspergillosis - invasive

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Aspergillosis - acute invasive

Treatment:

The objective of therapy is to treat any immune problems and to control the infection with antifungal medications. In the past, antifungal therapy was limited to amphotericin B. However, several less toxic agents have been shown to work against aspergillus. These include itraconazole, voriconazole, and caspofungin.

The patient will probably be admitted to the hospital.

If white blood cell counts are too low, the patient usually must reduce or stop immunosuppressive drug therapy and begin treatment with granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (GCSF).

Expectations (prognosis):

Patients with the invasive form of pulmonary aspergillosis are usually critically ill. The disease is difficult to cure. Prognosis is often not good. Patients should talk to their health care provider about their individual case.

Complications:

This infection can damage multiple organs, eventually causing multi-organ system failure.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if symptoms of this disorder develop. If you know you have a low white blood cell count and have fevers or symptoms of a respiratory infection, you should immediately notify your health care provider. An early diagnosis may improve the chance of a good outcome.

• Review Date: 2/27/2006
• Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, CriticalCare & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Reviewprovided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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