Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis

Since 1968 the number of reported cases of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in the United States has risen secondary to increased awareness by physicians and to improved diagnostic criteria for identifying the disease. The eight diagnostic criteria, the five clinical stages of the disease, the common radiographic changes, the pathologic findings, the common laboratory findings, the possible pathogenetic mechanisms involved, the differential diagnosis, the acute and chronic pulmonary function changes, and the importance of corticosteroid therapy in treatment of exacerbations and prevention of further lung damage are reviewed.