Abstract
Background: A 12-year-old boy with asthma and 6 years of recurrent pneumonias who had normal serum immunoglobulin concentrations was suspected of having allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). Objective: To search for and secure a fungal etiology for a child who did not have ABPA but was suspected of having an allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis. Methods: Immediate skin testing with fungal extracts, high resolution computerized tomography, and establishment of an ELISA procedure to detect serum IgE and IgG antibodies to Fusarium vasinfectum. Results: Immediate skin reactivity was present for Fusarium, Cladosporium, Helminthosporium, and Aspergillus fumigatus. The ELISA demonstrated serum IgE and IgG antibodies to Fusarium vasinfectum 8.5 and 5.6 times nonatopic control sera. Conclusions: This 12- year-old with asthma has sufficient criteria for a diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) to Fusarium vasinfectum. Bronchiectasis was not present despite recurrent pneumonias and hemoptysis. This case appears to be the first pediatric example of ABPM to Fusarium species, a fungus more recognized for causing rotting of tomatoes and melons than human disease.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 377-380 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology |
| Volume | 80 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1998 |
Funding
* Division of Allergy-Immunology, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois. † Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois. Supported by the Ernest S. Bazley Grant to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and North-western University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois. Received for publication October 24, 1997. Accepted in revised form February 16, 1998.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology
