Aspergillosis

Aspergillosis is an infectious disease caused by fungi of the genus Aspergillus, most commonly Aspergillus fumigatus. It is not a genetic disorder but rather an acquired condition that primarily affects immunocompromised individuals, though it can also occur in people with pre-existing lung conditions or, rarely, in immunocompetent hosts. The disease encompasses a spectrum of clinical presentations depending on the host's immune status and the site of infection. The most common forms include invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), which occurs predominantly in severely immunosuppressed patients such as those undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplantation, or prolonged corticosteroid therapy; chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), which affects individuals with underlying structural lung disease; and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), which occurs in patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis. Aspergilloma (fungal ball) can develop in pre-existing lung cavities. Key symptoms vary by form but commonly include persistent cough, hemoptysis (coughing up blood), fever unresponsive to antibiotics, chest pain, dyspnea (shortness of breath), and wheezing. Invasive disease can disseminate to the brain, skin, kidneys, and other organs, causing severe and potentially life-threatening complications. Treatment depends on the clinical form. Invasive aspergillosis is treated with antifungal agents, with voriconazole being the first-line therapy, and isavuconazole or liposomal amphotericin B as alternatives. ABPA is managed with corticosteroids and sometimes itraconazole. Aspergillomas may require surgical resection in cases of significant hemoptysis. Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis is typically treated with long-term itraconazole or voriconazole. Despite advances in antifungal therapy, mortality remains high in invasive forms, particularly in profoundly immunosuppressed patients.

Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.

Common questions about Aspergillosis