Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) complicates asthma and cystic fibrosis. The survival factors in Aspergillus fumigatus that support saprophytic growth in bronchial mucus are not understood. Prednisone remains the most definitive treatment but need not be administered indefinitely. MHC II-restricted CD4(+) T(H)2 clones have been derived from patients with ABPA. The total serum IgE concentration is elevated sharply but is "nonspecific" IgE serum isotypic antibodies to A fumigatus are useful in diagnosis; this is in contrast to the situation for patients with asthma without ABPA. High-resolution computed tomography of the chest demonstrates multiple areas of bronchiectasis in most patients with ABPA and is a useful radiologic tool. Some asthma control patients might have a few bronchiectatic airways, but not to the extent seen in or of the same character as those in ABPA. This review discusses clinical, radiologic, investigational, pathogenetic, and treatment issues of ABPA.