Clinical Manifestations and Treatment Outcome of Invasive Aspergillosis

Kang, Cheol In; Kim, Sung Han; Park, Wan Bum; Lee, Ki Deok; Kim, Hong Bin; Park, Sang Won; Choe, Young Ju; Oh, Myoung Don; Choe, Kang Won

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The incidence of invasive aspergillosis has been increasing as the number of severe immunocompromised hosts has increased. We reviewed representative cases of invasive aspergillosis to describe clinical manifestations and treatment outcome.
METHODS
We identified 40 cases of invasive aspergillosis on the ground of pathologic and radiologic findings from January 1991 to December 2000 and reviewed medical records and laboratory data.
RESULTS
Forty cases of invasive aspergillosis included 28 'definite' cases and 12 'probable' cases. Major involved organs of invasive aspergillosis were lung (n=23, 57.5%), sinus (n=11, 27.5%), brain (n=3, 7.5%), spine (n=1, 2.5%), skull (n=1, 2.5%), and small bowel (n=1, 2.5%). Underlying diseases and risk factors were hematologic malignancies (n=21, 52.5%), high-dose steroid treatment (n=8, 20%), post-transplantation of solid organ (n=2, 5%), and ectopic ACTH syndrome (n=1, 2.5%). Immunocompetent hosts including DM patients were 8 cases (20%) and their major involved sites were sinus (n=4) and brain (n=2). Crude mortality rate of total invasive aspergillosis after 3 months and 12 months were 30% and 47.5%, respectively. 3-month and 12-month mortality rate for pulmonary aspergillosis (n=23) were 39%, 61% and those for extrapulmonary aspergillosis (n=17) were 18 %, 29%. Patients with hematologic malignancy (n=21) were in 33%, 57%, other immunocompromised hosts (n=11) were in 45%, 45%, and immunocompetent hosts (n=8) were in 0%, 25%. Patients with aggravated underlying diseases and sustained risk factors (n=20) were in 60%, 70% and patients with improved underlying diseases and no risk factor (n=20) were in 0%, 20%.
CONCLUSION
Invasive aspergillosis mainly developed in severe immunocompromised hosts, but invasive sinus aspergillosis and cerebral aspergillosis occasionally developed in apparently immunocompetent hosts. The degree of immunosuppression and severity of underlying diseases affected the treatment outcome of invasive aspergillosis.