Clinical significance of extra-pulmonary involvement of invasive aspergillosis: a retrospective autopsy-based study of 107 patients

A. Horib, a, f1, M. Kamia, b, Y. Kishia, U. Machidac, T. Matsumurad and T. Kashimae

a Department of Hematology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
c Department of Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
d Department of Hematology, Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
b Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Unit, National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
e Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Received 18 September 2001;  accepted 18 December 2001. ; Available online 25 March 2002.

 

Abstract

Disseminated aspergillus infection has a poor prognosis, but few reports have been published on extra-pulmonary involvement in aspergillosis. We reviewed 107 autopsy records of patients with invasive aspergillosis. Fifty-five patients had extra-pulmonary aspergillosis. Organs involved included heart, kidney, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, spleen, liver, thyroid gland and pancreas. Extra-pulmonary aspergillosis produces different manifestations according to involved organs. Risk factors associated with dissemination included cytotoxic chemotherapy within a month of death (P=0.0087). Lack of response to empiric or preemptive treatment of amphotericin B predicted IA dissemination (P=0.0328). To improve prognosis of IA, it is important to recognize clinical features of extra-pulmonary aspergillosis and to institute the aggressive anti-fungal treatment.

Author Keywords: Invasive aspergillosis, haematological malignancy, extra-pulmonary aspergillosis, retrospective study, autopsy
 


 

f1 Author for correspondence: Dr A. Hori, Department of Stem Cell Transplant Unit, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1, Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. Fax: +81 3 3542 3815; E-mail: akihori@ncc.go.jp



 

 
 
This Document  
Abstract
Abstract + References
PDF (104 K)