Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a syndrome seen in patien ts with asthma and cystic fibrosis. It is characterized by chronic coloniza tion of the airways with a ubiquitous fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus. The cl inical expression of ABPA results from the complex interaction of chronic c olonization of the airways with A. fumigatus, host factors allowing this co lonization, and the host's genetically determined immune response. Clinical ly the syndrome is characterized by recurrent episodes of wheezing, mucus p roduction, pulmonary infiltrates, and elevated levels of serum IgE. Many pa tients develop central bronchiectasis, and a subset will go on to endstage fibrotic lung disease. It is thought that treatment will prevent this progr ession. The mainstay of therapy remains oral corticosteroids.