Residual pulmonary abnormalities in adult patients with chronic paracoccidioidomycosis: prolonged follow-up after itraconazole therapy

Clin Infect Dis. 2003 Oct 1;37(7):898-904. doi: 10.1086/377538. Epub 2003 Sep 8.

Abstract

Itraconazole effectively controls active paracoccidioidomycosis but appears not to hinder lung fibrosis. Clinical records and chest radiographs from 47 itraconazole-treated patients with prolonged posttherapy follow-up (mean follow-up period, 5.6 years) were analyzed; the radiographs were interpreted following pneumoconiosis standards that consider the lungs as 6 fields and grade damage according to the number of fields involved. Infiltrative lesions were observed at diagnosis in 93.6% of the patients. Fibrosis was observed in 31.8% of the patients at diagnosis and had not cleared at the end of the observation period in any of these patients. Fibrosis also developed de novo in 11 patients (25%), so that by the end of the follow-up period it was seen in 53.2% of patients overall. Fibrosis correlated with severity of infiltrates at diagnosis: fibrosis was present in 83% of patients with very severe infiltration and in 12.5% of patients with minor infiltration. Among patients with severe infiltration, fibrosis was present in 30%; this increased (to 75%) when bullae were concomitantly present at diagnosis. Prompt initiation of treatment is necessary to avoid the development of fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antifungal Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Itraconazole / adverse effects*
  • Itraconazole / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Paracoccidioidomycosis / drug therapy*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / etiology*
  • Radiography

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Itraconazole