Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and fungoses

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis or fungoses are capable of producing significant lung destruction characterized by proximal bronchiectasis and bronchiolitis obliterans. The increased clinical recognition and availability of serodiagnostic assays have helped identify early cases of these disorders before extensive bronchiectasis has occurred. The most useful assays are total serum IgE, search for precipitating antibodies to fungal antigens, and demonstration of elevated serum IgE and/or IgG antibodies to fungi involved. Five stages of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis have been recognized. If proximal bronchiectasis is not present, patients satisfying all other criteria are classified as having seropositive disease. Such patients represent the earliest form of this disorder.