[Aspergillosis in systemic diseases treated with steroids and/or immunosuppressive drugs: report of 9 cases and review of the literature]

Rev Med Interne. 2006 Nov;27(11):813-27. doi: 10.1016/j.revmed.2006.07.007. Epub 2006 Aug 24.
[Article in French]

Abstract

This is a multicentric retrospective study of aspergillosis in patients treated by corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive drugs for systemic diseases and a review of the literature. Nine patients, 5 men and 4 women, mean age of 62.8 years old were included among which Horton's diseases (3 cases), systemic lupus erythematosus (2), polymyositis (1), microscopic polyangiitis (1), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (1), rheumatoid polyarthritis (1). Aspergillosis occurred in average 28.4 month after the diagnosis of systemic disease, and 28 months after the beginning of its treatment: corticosteroids in all cases, at a dose of 50.8 mg/day (equivalent prednisone) in average, cyclophosphamide (2 cases), methotrexate (1), intravenous immunoglobulins (1), leflunomide (1). All cases were invasive or chronic pulmonary aspergillosis located in the lungs (6 cases), or in the brain (3). Revealing symptoms were mild and non specific. Lymphopenia was severe in most cases, in average 472 lymphocytes/mm3 and 283 CD4+/mm3. The diagnosis was confirmed 20.75 days after the first symptoms in invasive aspergillosis, and 18.5 months in the chronic pulmonary cases, by cultures in 7 cases (broncho-alveolar lavage: 4; cerebral biopsy: 3), and direct microscopy examination of broncho-alveolar lavage in 2 cases. Specific serology was positive in 4 cases. Patients were treated by voriconazole (4 cases), itraconazole (2), amphotericin B (1), association of caspofungin and voriconazole (1), successive voriconazole and itraconazole (1). Six patients recovered from aspergillosis with 10.8 months of following time, 3 patients died a few days after confirmation of the diagnosis. Fifty-four cases of the literature are analysed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract
  • Multicenter Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / complications
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Aspergillosis / complications*
  • Aspergillosis / diagnosis
  • Aspergillosis / drug therapy*
  • Aspergillosis / mortality
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / complications
  • Giant Cell Arteritis / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymyositis / complications
  • Polymyositis / drug therapy
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / complications
  • Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / drug therapy
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Immunosuppressive Agents