Microbiological and immunological characteristics of a lethal pulmonary Aspergillus niger infection in a non-neutropenic patient

Abstract

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is increasingly described in non-neutropenic patients, such as patients with COPD receiving corticosteroids and the critically ill. Here, we present a case of a lethal pulmonary Aspergillus niger infection in a COPD patient. Immunological tests showed an impaired innate and adaptive immune response to Aspergillus. A history of COPD, unresponsiveness to antibiotics and especially a suggestive CT-scan should trigger the clinician to consider diseases caused by Aspergillus.

Potential value of serum Aspergillus IgG antibody detection in the diagnosis of invasive and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in non-agranulocytic patients

“…Although pulmonary aspergillosis in non-agranulocytic patients has increased with the development of society, the frequency remains low relative to that in agranulocytic patients. To date, few data are available in nonagranulocytic patients, and most of them are found in case reports [2,[17][18][19]. Consequently, more cases and more studies are urgently needed to understand nonagranulocytic pulmonary aspergillosis to provide more references or clues for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.…”

“…Pulmonary aspergillosis is uncommon in nonagranulocytic patients, and only a small amount of data are available. Nevertheless, in recent years, the incidence of pulmonary aspergillosis in non-granulocytic patients has increased with ageing; the increase in chronic diseases; the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, hormones, and immunosuppressive drugs; and invasive operations [1,2]. Moreover, the clinical manifestations of these patients lack specificity, and the diagnosis is usually difficult, which leads to treatment delay and affects the prognosis.…”

Diagnostic value of serum Aspergillus IgG antibody for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in non-agranulocytic patients

“…Although pulmonary aspergillosis in non-agranulocytic patients has increased with the development of society, the frequency remains low relative to that in agranulocytic patients. To date, few data are available in non-agranulocytic patients, and most of them are found in case reports [15][16][17][18].…”

“…1 Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin 300222, China. 2 The clinical laboratory, Tianjin Chest Hospital, Tianjin 300222, China. 3…”

Potential value of serum Aspergillus IgG antibody detection in the diagnosis of invasive and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in non-agranulocytic patients

“…Pulmonary aspergillosis is uncommon in non-agranulocytic patients, and only a small amount of data are available. Nevertheless, in recent years, the incidence of pulmonary aspergillosis in non-granulocytic patients has increased with ageing; the increase in chronic diseases; the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, hormones, and immunosuppressive drugs; and invasive operations [1,2]. Moreover, the clinical manifestations of these patients lack specificity, and the diagnosis is usually difficult, which leads to treatment delay and affects the prognosis.…”