[Bronchopulmonary aspergillosis infections in the non-immunocompromised patient].

The definition of broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis infections in non-immunocompromised patients remains vague and a wide range of clinical, radiological and pathological entities have been described with a variety of names, i.e. simple aspergilloma, complex aspergilloma, semi-invasive aspergillosis, chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis, chronic cavitary and fibrosing pulmonary and pleural aspergillosis, pseudomembranous tracheobronchitis caused by Aspergillus, and invasive aspergillosis. However, these disease entities share common characteristics suggesting that they belong to the same group of pulmonary aspergillosis infectious disorders: 1- a specific diathesis responsible for the deterioration in local or systemic defenses against infection (alcohol, tobacco abuse, or diabetes); 2- an underlying bronchopulmonary disease responsible or not for the presence of a residual pleural or bronchopulmonary cavity (active tuberculosis or tuberculosis sequelae, bronchial dilatation, sarcoidosis, COPD); 3- generally, the prolonged use of low-dose oral or inhaled corticosteroids and 4- little or no vascular invasion, a granulomatous reaction and a low tendency for metastasis. There are no established treatment guidelines for broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis infection in non-immunocompromised patients, except for invasive aspergillosis. Bronchial artery embolization may stop hemoptysis in certain cases. Surgery is generally impossible because of impaired respiratory function or the severity of the comorbidity and when it is possible morbidity and mortality are very high. Numerous clinical cases and short retrospective series have reported the effect over time of the various antifungal agents available. Oral triazoles, i.e. itraconazole, and in particular voriconazole, appear to provide suitable treatment for broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis infections in non-immunocompromised patients.