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The Cochrane Database of Systematic... Sep 2021Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive multisystem disorder with an approximate prevalence of 1 in 3500 live births. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a lung... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive multisystem disorder with an approximate prevalence of 1 in 3500 live births. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a lung disease caused by aspergillus-induced hypersensitivity with a prevalence of 2% to 15% in people with cystic fibrosis. The mainstay of treatment includes corticosteroids and itraconazole. The treatment with corticosteroids for prolonged periods of time, or repeatedly for exacerbations of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, may lead to many adverse effects. The monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, omalizumab, has improved asthma control in severely allergic asthmatics. The drug is given as a subcutaneous injection every two to four weeks. Since allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is also a condition resulting from hypersensitivity to specific allergens, as in asthma, it may be a candidate for therapy using anti-IgE antibodies. Therefore, anti-IgE therapy, using agents like omalizumab, may be a potential therapy for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in people with cystic fibrosis. This is an updated version of the review.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of anti-IgE therapy for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in people with cystic fibrosis.
SEARCH METHODS
We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis Trials Register, compiled from electronic database searches and handsearching of journals and conference abstract books. We also searched the reference lists of relevant articles and reviews. Last search: 09 September 2021. We searched two ongoing trial registries (Clinicaltrials.gov and the WHO trials platform). Date of latest search: 16 August 2021.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials comparing anti-IgE therapy to placebo or other therapies for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in people with cystic fibrosis.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed the risk of bias in the included study. They planned to perform data analysis using Review Manager.
MAIN RESULTS
Only one study enrolling 14 participants was eligible for inclusion in the review. The double-blind study compared a daily dose of 600 mg omalizumab or placebo along with twice daily itraconazole and oral corticosteroids, with a maximum daily dose of 400 mg. Treatment lasted six months but the study was terminated prematurely and complete data were not available. We contacted the study investigator and were told that the study was terminated due to the inability to recruit participants into the study despite all reasonable attempts. One or more serious side effects were encountered in six out of nine (66.67%) and one out of five (20%) participants in omalizumab group and placebo group respectively.
AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS
There is lack of evidence for the efficacy and safety of anti-IgE (omalizumab) therapy in people with cystic fibrosis and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. There is a need for large prospective randomized controlled studies of anti-IgE therapy in people with cystic fibrosis and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis with both clinical and laboratory outcome measures such as steroid requirement, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis exacerbations and lung function.
Topics: Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; Antifungal Agents; Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary; Cystic Fibrosis; Humans; Prospective Studies; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 34550603
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010288.pub5 -
Pulmonary Pharmacology & Therapeutics Oct 2023Invasive fungal infections potentially result in fatal outcomes in immunocompromised hosts. Compared to intravenous administration, a nebulization therapy can achieve a...
PURPOSE
Invasive fungal infections potentially result in fatal outcomes in immunocompromised hosts. Compared to intravenous administration, a nebulization therapy can achieve a high concentration of drug delivered in the respiratory tract, without a systematic absorption. We herein summarized the study findings on the safety and clinical utility of nebulized liposomal amphotericin B therapy.
METHODS
According to the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews, we performed a search on MEDLINE and EMBASE for articles with relevant keywords, including "inhaled liposomal amphotericin B″, "nebulized liposomal amphotericin B″, or "aerosolized liposomal amphotericin B″, from the inception of these databases to August 31, 2022.
RESULTS
Of the 172 articles found, 27 articles, including 13 case reports, 11 observational studies, and 3 clinical trials, were selected. Generally, findings showed that nebulized liposomal amphotericin B treatment appeared to be safe and without severe adverse effects. We found an accumulated evidence for the safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of nebulized liposomal amphotericin B prophylaxis among lung transplantation recipients; however, a randomized controlled study has yet to be reported. Data on hemato-oncological patients are relatively scarce; however, a randomized controlled study suggested the prophylactic effect of nebulized liposomal amphotericin B on invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Observational and randomized controlled studies to evaluate therapeutic efficacy of the nebulized liposomal amphotericin B therapy have not been performed.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we found increasing evidence for the effectiveness of the inhalation therapy among patients after lung transplantation and with hemato-oncological diseases.
Topics: Humans; Antifungal Agents; Amphotericin B; Infusions, Intravenous; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37414132
DOI: 10.1016/j.pupt.2023.102233 -
Substance Abuse Jul 2023The prevalence of marijuana use and its derivatives has surged over the past century, largely due to increasing legalization globally. Despite arguments advocating its... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of marijuana use and its derivatives has surged over the past century, largely due to increasing legalization globally. Despite arguments advocating its benefits, marijuana smoking exposes the lungs to harmful combustion byproducts, leading to various respiratory issues such as asthma, pneumonia, emphysema, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
METHODS
We embarked on an extensive literature search, utilizing PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases, identifying 200 studies. After the elimination of duplicates, and meticulous review of abstracts and full texts, 55 studies were included in our analysis.
RESULTS
Current literature demonstrates that marijuana use negatively impacts lung function, triggering symptoms like chronic cough, sputum production, and wheezing, and diminishing FEV1/FVC ratio in spirometry tests. Moreover, prolonged or chronic marijuana use augments the risk of respiratory function impairment. While the carcinogenic effects of marijuana are still contested, a weak correlation between marijuana use and lung cancer has been observed in some studies. Additionally, instances of other pathologies linked to marijuana use have been reported, including the development of COPD, pulmonary bullae, spontaneous pneumothorax, pleuritic pain, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, hemoptysis, and pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
CONCLUSIONS
The evidence underscores that marijuana use is detrimental to respiratory health. In light of the escalating trend of marijuana use, particularly among the youth, it is imperative to advocate public health messages discouraging its consumption.
PubMed: 37728136
DOI: 10.1177/08897077231186228 -
Clinical Imaging Oct 2022Common CT abnormalities of pulmonary aspergillosis represent a cavity with air-meniscus sign, nodule, mass, and consolidation having an angio-invasive pattern. This...
PURPOSE
Common CT abnormalities of pulmonary aspergillosis represent a cavity with air-meniscus sign, nodule, mass, and consolidation having an angio-invasive pattern. This study aims to conduct a systematic review and an individual patient-level image analysis of CT findings of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA).
METHODS
A systematic literature search was conducted to identify studies reporting CT findings of CAPA as of January 7, 2021. We summarized study-level clinical and CT findings of CAPA and collected individual patient CT images by inviting corresponding authors. The CT findings were categorized into four groups: group 1, typical appearance of COVID-19; group 2, indeterminate appearance of COVID-19; group 3, atypical for COVID-19 without cavities; and group 4, atypical for COVID-19 with cavities. In group 2, cases had only minor discrepant findings including solid nodules, isolated airspace consolidation with negligible ground-glass opacities, centrilobular micronodules, bronchial abnormalities, and cavities.
RESULTS
The literature search identified 89 patients from 25 studies, and we collected CT images from 35 CAPA patients (mean age 62.4 ± 14.6 years; 21 men): group 1, thirteen patients (37.1%); group 2, eight patients (22.9%); group 3, six patients (17.1%); and group 4, eight patients (22.9%). Eight of the 14 patients (57.1%) with an atypical appearance had bronchial abnormalities, whereas only one (7.1%) had an angio-invasive fungal pattern. In the study-level analysis, cavities were reported in 12 of 54 patients (22.2%).
CONCLUSION
CAPA can frequently manifest as COVID-19 pneumonia without common CT abnormalities of pulmonary aspergillosis. If abnormalities exist on CT images, CAPA may frequently accompany bronchial abnormalities.
Topics: Aged; COVID-19; Data Analysis; Humans; Lung; Male; Middle Aged; Pulmonary Aspergillosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 35908455
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2022.07.003 -
International Dental Journal Oct 2022Studies reviewing orofacial mycoses in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are sparse. Here we...
OBJECTIVES
Studies reviewing orofacial mycoses in coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are sparse. Here we review the major oral and maxillofacial mycoses of COVID-19, the associated comorbidities, and the probable precipitating factors.
METHODS
English-language manuscripts published between March 2020 and October 2021 were searched using PubMed, OVID, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases, using appropriate keywords.
RESULTS
We identified 30 articles across 14 countries, which met the inclusion criteria of PRISMA guidelines. These yielded a total of 292 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, 51.4% (n = 150) of whom presented with oral and maxillofacial fungal infections, mainly comprising candidosis, mucormycosis, and aspergillosis. Candida infections were the most prevalent, present in 64% (n = 96), followed by mucormycosis, and only a single case of aspergillosis was noted. Oral and maxillofacial mycoses were predominantly seen in those with comorbidities, especially in those with diabetes (52.4%). Oral mucormycosis was noted in 8.6% (n = 13) and mainly manifested on the hard palate. An overall event rate of oral/maxillofacial mucormycosis manifestation in patients with COVID-19 with diabetes mellitus type 1/2 was about 94% (49/52; 95% confidence interval, 0.73%-0.89%), implying a very high association between diabetes mellitus and the latter condition. All fungal infections appeared either concurrently with COVID-19 symptoms or during the immediate recovery period.
CONCLUSIONS
SARS-CoV-2 infection-related immunosuppression, steroid therapy, as well as comorbidities such as diabetic hyperglycemia appear to be the major predisposing factors for the onset of oral and maxillofacial mycoses in patients with COVID-19 across all age groups.
Topics: COVID-19; Comorbidity; Humans; Mycoses; SARS-CoV-2; Steroids
PubMed: 35367044
DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2022.02.010 -
Mycoses Sep 2021Reports of COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) are rising, but the associated mortality and factors affecting it are not well-characterised. We performed... (Review)
Review Meta-Analysis
Reports of COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) are rising, but the associated mortality and factors affecting it are not well-characterised. We performed a systematic review including 20 peer-reviewed English language studies reporting mortality in CAPA published till 18 February 2021from PubMed, Ovid SP, Web of Science, Embase and CINHAL. The pooled mortality in CAPA was 51.2% (95% CI: 43.1-61.1, I = 38%). The leave one out sensitivity analysis and influential case diagnostics revealed one outlier and its exclusion resulted in a mortality estimate of 54% (95% CI: 45-62). Higher odds of mortality: 2.83 (95% CI: 1.8-4.5) were seen in CAPA compared to controls. No significant difference in various subgroups according to the country of study, the continent of study, income category of country and quality of the included study was seen. None of the host risk factors, mycological test results, therapy for COVID-19 and antifungal therapy affected mortality. Thus, patients with CAPA have a high probability of mortality and early diagnosis with prompt therapy must be ensured to optimally manage these patients. However, more prospective studies with global and multi-centre coordination may help to address CAPA in a better way.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antifungal Agents; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; COVID-19; Cause of Death; Critical Illness; Female; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis; Male; Middle Aged; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 34057252
DOI: 10.1111/myc.13328 -
Infectious Diseases Now Nov 2021Aspergillus is a ubiquitous ascomycete that can cause a variety of clinical presentations depending on immune status. Central nervous system aspergillosis is a fatal...
Aspergillus is a ubiquitous ascomycete that can cause a variety of clinical presentations depending on immune status. Central nervous system aspergillosis is a fatal disease with non-specific clinical features. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and therapeutic interventions in CNS aspergillosis patients. We also aimed to examine the possible predictors of mortality in neuroaspergillosis. Literature search was performed in Medline, PubMed, and Google scholar and all patients≥18 years with proven CNS aspergillosis were included. A total of 175 articles (235 patients) were included in the final analysis. Their mean age was 51 years and the majority were male (57.4%). Overall case-fatality was 45.1%. Aspergillus fumigatus was the most common species (70.8%) followed by A. flavus (18.6%). Corticosteroids (22.6%), malignancy (19.1%) and diabetes mellitus (14%) were the most common risk factors. Neuroimaging findings included cerebral abscess (70.2%), meningitis (14%), infarction (13.2%) and mycotic aneurysm (8.9%). Disseminated disease (29.2% vs 17.8%, p 0.03), CSF hypoglycorrhachia (48.1% vs 22.2%, P: 0.001) and heightened CSF galactomannan (3.62 vs 2.0ng/ml, p 0.05), were the factors associated with poor outcome in neuroaspergillosis. Persons infected with Aspergillus flavus (13.1% vs 3.1%, P: 0.01), and having been treated with Voriconazole (51.9% vs 29.2%, P: 0.004) were more likely to survive. Our review will provide insight into the different spectrums of CNS aspergillosis. Notwithstanding the promising role of Voriconazole, future work is required to ascertain the role of combination antifungal therapy.
Topics: Aspergillosis; Central Nervous System; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Neuroaspergillosis; Treatment Outcome; Voriconazole
PubMed: 33964485
DOI: 10.1016/j.idnow.2021.04.002 -
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2023: The prevalence of aspergillus sensitization (AS) and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in asthmatic children remains unclear. : To systematically review... (Review)
Review
: The prevalence of aspergillus sensitization (AS) and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) in asthmatic children remains unclear. : To systematically review the literature to estimate the prevalence of AS and ABPA in children with bronchial asthma. : We searched the PubMed and Embase databases for studies reporting the prevalence of AS or ABPA in pediatric asthma. The primary outcome was to assess the prevalence of AS, while the secondary outcome was to evaluate the prevalence of ABPA. We pooled the prevalence estimates using a random effects model. We also calculated the heterogeneity and publication bias. : Of the 11,695 records retrieved, 16 studies with 2468 asthmatic children met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were published from tertiary centers. The pooled prevalence of AS in asthma (15 studies; 2361 subjects) was 16.1% (95% confidence intervals [CI], 9.3-24.3). The prevalence of AS was significantly higher in prospective studies, studies from India, and those from developing countries. The pooled prevalence of ABPA in asthma (5 studies; 505 children) was 9.9% (95% CI, 0.81-27.6). There was significant heterogeneity and publication bias for both outcomes. : We found a high prevalence of AS and ABPA in asthmatic children. There is a need for community-based studies from different ethnicities using a standard methodology to ascertain the true prevalence of AS and ABPA in pediatric asthma.
PubMed: 36900068
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13050922 -
Journal de Mycologie Medicale Mar 2023Invasive aspergillosis (IA) affects more than 300,000 people annually worldwide with a case fatality rate reaching 80%. However, in Africa despite the presence of risk... (Review)
Review
Invasive aspergillosis (IA) affects more than 300,000 people annually worldwide with a case fatality rate reaching 80%. However, in Africa despite the presence of risk factors for the development of IA, the burden of these fungal infections remained unknown. This systematic review aimed to update the available information on the epidemiology and the therapeutic management of IA in Africa. The published papers were systematically searched on major medical databases from September 20 to October 10, 2021. The list of references of eligible articles and the Google scholar database were also checked in order to search for possible eligible articles. Results were reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search yielded 1864 articles of which 29 met the inclusion criteria. This systematic review showed the existence of IA in Africa. The prevalence of IA can reach 27% with a fatality rate of more than 60%. The most common clinical form of IA found was invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. The main predisposing conditions identified were neutropenia, HIV/AIDS, renal transplant recipients, and renal failure. Aspergillus section Flavi and Nigri were the main Aspergillus species identified and Aspergillus section Fumigati was uncommon. The main management strategy for IA cases was to start antifungal therapy only after a failure of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. This review provided evidence of the existence of invasive aspergillosis in Africa and especially a high rate of undiagnosed invasive aspergillosis cases.
Topics: Humans; Antifungal Agents; Aspergillosis; Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis; Aspergillus; Invasive Fungal Infections; Risk Factors; Africa
PubMed: 36265260
DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2022.101328 -
Journal of the Intensive Care Society Aug 2021Non-valvular cardiac aspergillosis is a rare infection of the pericardium, myocardium or endocardium and is associated with a high mortality. There is a paucity of... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
Non-valvular cardiac aspergillosis is a rare infection of the pericardium, myocardium or endocardium and is associated with a high mortality. There is a paucity of reports of non-valvular cardiac aspergillosis in critically ill and solid organ transplant (SOT) patients. The majority of cases have been reported in haemato-oncology patients, some of whom have undergone a bone marrow transplant.
OBJECTIVES
We describe four cases affected by non-valvular cardiac aspergillosis in the intensive care setting including a systematic review of this extremely rare infection which is associated with high mortality.
RESULTS
All four-patients died but presented with varying clinical, radiological and microbiological evidence of the disease. Three patients presented following complications after solid organ transplantation, two in the context of acute liver failure and emergency liver transplant and one several years after a double lung transplant. The last patient presented with necrotising gall stone pancreatitis, multi-organ failure and subsequently a prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay. On review of the literature, January 1955 to July 2019, 45 cases were identified, with different risk factors, clinical and radiological manifestations, treatment regimen and outcome.
CONCLUSION
Antemortem diagnosis of cardiac aspergillosis is difficult and rare, with no cases reporting positive blood culture results. Galactomannan serology has poor sensitivity in solid organ transplant patients, further reduced by prophylactic antimicrobial treatment, which is common in the ICU setting especially post-transplant patients. Due to the scarcity of cases, treatment is extrapolated from invasive aspergillosis management, with emphasis on early treatment with combination therapy.
PubMed: 34422107
DOI: 10.1177/1751143720936821