Treating Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis: A Review

Abstract

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a pulmonary disorder that results from a hypersensitivity reaction to the fungi Aspergillus fumigatus (Af). It presents with pulmonary infiltrates and bronchiectasis. Past research studies on ABPA have led to the conclusion that it is both underdiagnosed and much more prevalent than previously assumed. The underdiagnosing of ABPA is due to a lack of consensus regarding diagnosis and treatment. Complications that result from delay in treatment for ABPA are pulmonary fibrosis, bronchiectasis with chronic sputum production, and severe persistent asthma with loss of lung function. Because of this, it becomes imperative that ABPA treatment guidelines are reviewed and more thoroughly evaluated regarding their efficacy. The following article addresses the epidemiology, the pathophysiology, and the treatment of ABPA. The treatment is studied in detail regarding the types of medications used and their proven clinical impact on patients according to past research studies. The aim of this article is to address the current need for larger clinical trials in order to learn more and establish more formal treatment protocols for ABPA.