« Aspergillus » et système respiratoire

Aspergillus is the first causative organism of respiratory mycosis. It causes a variety of clinical presentations, of different pathophysiological mechanisms that depend mainly on the host's local and general predisposing factors and on environmental factors. Aspergilloma consists of masses of fungal mycelia in preformed lung cavities. Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a severe and commonly fatal acute infectious disease in immunocompromised patients. Chronic necrotizing aspergillosis is a subacute pulmonary infection in mildly immunocompromised patients with chronic lung disease. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a hypersensitivity reaction to Aspergillus which affects patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis. These last years showed both an increasing incidence of aspergillosis and the development of radiological and mycological diagnostic methods and new antifungal therapy.