Analysis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in 8 children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To summarize the clinical features of the allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in children,in order to improve the understanding for ABPA and make early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.Methods A retrospective study was performed on ABPA patients diagnosed in Department of Respiratory Medicine,Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from March 2010 to December 2013.The clinical features,laboratory results,image characteristics and the prognosis information were reviewed.Results Eight ABPA cases met the diagnostic criterion.All patients were school-age children (7 years and 2 months to 13 years and 8 months old).Cough (8 cases),productive sputum (8 cases),wheezing (5 cases),fever (4 cases) and hemoptysis (3 cases) were the main clinical features.Six of the 8 patients showed eosinophilia.IgE level was elevated in 7 patients (1.000-5.000 IU/L).All 8 patients were allergic to aspergillus fumigatus,while only 2 cases were positive in sputum culture for aspergillus fumigatus.CT scans showed pulmonary opacities in all 8 cases,while 7 patients had typical central bronchiectasis.Seven patients were treated with the regimen,which included glucocorticosteroid,antifungal agents (voriconazole or itraconazole) and regular bronchoscope.The symptoms of all treated patients relieved,the total serum IgE level and eosinophil cell count decreased spontaneously after the therapy.Conclusions ABPA is rare in children and the clinical features are non-specific.If the patient has elevated total IgE level in serum and eosinophilia,especially in patients with underling diseases,ABPA should be suspected.The positive result of specific antibodies to aspergillus fumigatus and central bronchiectasis on the radiology may give the suggestive diagnosis.ABPA patients generally have good response to the therapy of glucocorticosteroid and antifungal agents.