Prevalence and risk factors for pulmonary aspergillosis infection in thoracic oncology: a 5 years retrospective study

Aspergillosis is responsible for a large spectrum of entities, from colonization to invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Incidences of both lung cancer and pulmonary aspergillosis are growing. Because lung cancer is frequently associated to COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), to architectural abnormalities of bronchus and to a high exposure to corticosteroids, it may facilitate aspergillosis. However, these fungal complications in patients with lung carcinoma are poorly known. The main aims of our study were to analyze the frequency of aspergillosis in a cohort of lung cancer and to identify risk factors.A cohort of lung cancer presenting a positive culture for Aspergillus from respiratory samples was retrospectively built over 5 years, from 2 medical centers in Lyon. Two groups (colonized and infected) have been individualized using serology, serum Galactomannane antigen and radiological findings. Among 132 patients with a lung cancer and a positive culture for Aspergillus, 21 (15,9 %) were infected, and 111 were solely colonized. In multivariate analysis, hypoalbuminemia (OR 1,12 ; 95CI [1,00 ; 1,25] p = 0,038) and GOLD (Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease) stages 3 and 4 of COPD (OR 5,72 ; 95CI [1,28 ; 25,55] p=0,02) were significantly associated with pulmonary aspergillosis. In univariate analysis, a trend for an increased risk of aspergillosis was present if systemic corticosteroids were employed in the previous 6 months.Our datas highlight the frequenc...
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Respiratory Infections Source Type: research