Clinical-Immunologic Correlates: A Differential Diagnostic Update
Abstract
Journal of Asthma, 21(1), 41-51 (1984) CLINICAL-IMMUNOLOGIC CORRELATES: A DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSTIC UPDATE Allergic Bronchopulmonary As pergillosis - Chris Chryssanthopoulos, M.D. * Jordan N. Fink, M.D. INTRODUCTION Aspyyillirs spores are responsible for three distinct forms of pulmonary hypersensitivity. The first form is manifested as bronchial asthma and is mediated by IgE (I). The second form presents as hypersensitivity pneumonitis (2-4) and occurs in nonatopic individuals. The third form, allergic bronchopulmonary asperigillosis, occurs in patients with a short or long duration of atopic asthma (5). Allergic bronchopulnionary aspergillosis is often confused with hypersensitivity pneumonitis. It is due to hypersensitivity reaction of the lung to antigens of Aspugillus species, especially of A. firmigatus. Since its first description by Hinson (5), the disease has been diagnosed with increasing frequency in the United States and Britain. Although the initial descriptions involved adults, the increasing awareness of physician with the disease has led to recognition *Address requests for reprints to: Dr. Chris Chryssanthopoulos, 94 Egnatias Street, Thessaloniki, Greece. Copyright of allergic bronchopulmonary asperigillosis in infancy (6) and childhood (7,B). It has been recognized that organisms other than Aspâgillus may cause similar clinical conditions. These include Caiidida nlhicam (2,9) and Hclrni,iflic,sporiIrni (10). EPIDEMIOLOGY The prevalence