Non-Aspergillus allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis in a pediatric patient with cystic fibrosis

This article describes a child with cystic fibrosis (CF) and allergic bronc hopulmonary mycosis caused by Tricosporon beigelii. An 11-year-old boy with CF failed to respond to conventional treatment for a pulmonary exacerbatio n, Bronchial washings contained copious budding yeast forms, subsequently i dentified as T beigelii. Total serum immunoglobulin E was elevated and prec ipitating antibodies to T beigelii were positive. Together these findings s upport the diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis. The patient impr oved with antifungal therapy and systemic glucocorticoid therapy. The patho logic potential of yeast in the airways of patients with CF is unclear. The diagnosis of non-Aspergillus allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis requires a high degree of suspicion and has potentially important implications for the management of patients with CF.