Abstract
Background. Aspergillus infection is well known to induce various types of lung diseases. We report a case of bronchopulmonary aspergillosis appearing as eosinophilic pneumonia. Methods and Results. A 52-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of dry cough and pulmonary infiltrates on chest X-ray. The percentages of eosinophils were high in peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. IgE levels were within normal limits. Histological sections obtained by transbronchial lung biopsy revealed eosinophilic infiltration. Bronchofiberscopic findings showed a mucus plug occluding the orifice of left B^9. Plasma β-D glucan level was high, and precipitating antibody to Aspergillus antigen was positive. However, she had neither asthmatic symptoms nor proximal bronchiectasis on her chest CT scan. After initiating treatment with itraconazole, the respiratory symptoms improved and pulmonary infiltrates disappeared without requiring corticosteroids. Therefore, we diagnosed bronchopulmonary aspergillosis appearing as eosinophilic pneumonia. Conclusion. We considered our case is important because it has both the characteristics of infectious disease and allergic disease induced by Aspergillus.
