Aspergillus hypersensitivity and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis among asthma patients in eastern India.

To find out the clinicoradiomycopathological profile of allergic bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) and incidences of aspergillus hypersensitivity (AH) among asthma patients, 215 consecutive extrinsic asthma patients were screened with aspergillus intradermal test and those found positive for AH were investigated further for ABPA. Out of 215 asthma patients (124 males and 91 females), 54 were hypersensitive to AH and 15 of them fulfilled criteria for ABPA. On repeated culture of sputum and/or broncho-alveolar lavage fluid, A flavuswas the most common isolate (40%), followed by A fumigatus (26.67%). No species was isolated in 4 cases (26.6%). AH/ABPA is not very uncommon in this part of the country. Diseases similar to ABPA caused by other fungus might be diagnosed if allergen tests for other fungal antigens are made widely available. A strong clinical suspicion and proper laboratory backup is essential for diagnosing ABPA and related diseases.