Late sequelae of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

Seven patients with late sequelae of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) are described. All seven had significant chronic symptoms from asthma. At the time of diagnosis of ABPA all patients had marked irreversible pulmonary function abnormalities; symptoms of chronic bronchitis were present in all. Pulmonary fibrosis was present in six of seven patients. Three patients have died from irreversible lung disease with terminal cardiac failure. Despite the difficulty in establishing an early diagnosis of ABPA, its importance must be emphasized in order to attempt to prevent progression of the disease to severe irreversible and potentially fatal end-stage lung disease.