Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA)

Having worked in the field of antifungal drug discovery for many years, Creative Biolabs has successfully established an advanced technology platform which enables to provide a series of drug candidates exploiting services for global customers. Now, we are happy to introduce our cost-effective antifungal drug discovery service against allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA).

What is Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA)?

ABPA is a form of lung disease that occurs in some people who are allergic to persistent Aspergillus fumigatus in the airways. It usually occurs in patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis (CF), especially those with coexisting atopy. With ABPA, this allergic reaction causes the immune system to overreact to Aspergillus leading to lung inflammation. Some people with ABPA will develop bronchiectasis, a form of airway damage that can result in worse lung function and increased risk of infection.

Fig.1 Pathophysiology of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. (Moss, 2013)

Symptoms of Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis

The symptoms of ABPA are similar to asthma. Generally, a person with ABPA will have some or all of the following symptoms:

• Coughing frequently (sometimes may cough up blood)
• Fatigue
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain or tightness
• Fever (repeated attack)

Diagnosis Methods for Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis

The diagnosis of ABPA is suspected in patients with asthma with recurrent asthma exacerbations. There is no individual test to diagnose ABPA. Usually, the diagnosis is based on a set of tests including:

• History of asthma
• Skin prick test with Aspergillus antigen
• Chest x-ray or high-resolution CT
• Aspergillus precipitins in blood
• Positive sputum culture for Aspergillus species
• IgE levels for allergic evaluation

Treatment of Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis

The goal of ABPA treatment is to induce remission by suppressing the inflammatory pathway so that further lung destruction does not occur while minimizing side effects. Remission is defined by improvement in clinical symptoms, decrease in total serum IgE level, resolution of radiographic opacities, and improvement in lung function. Usually, patients with ABPA are treated with a combination of oral corticosteroids and anti-fungal medications. The corticosteroid (steroid medicine) is used to treat inflammation and block the allergic reaction. The second type of therapy used is an anti-fungal medication to help kill Aspergillus so that it no longer colonizes the airway.

However, this treatment is not curative (permanently cure of ABPA) and even have side effects. Hence, developing more effective drugs for the treatment of ABPA is essential. Aided by a wealth of experienced and professional scientists, Creative Biolabs is confident in offering top antifungal drug discovery services using various approaches. Except for ABPA, we also provide drug discovery services against other aspergillosis as well as Aspergillus spp. For more detailed information, please feel free to contact us.

Reference

1. Moss, R.B. Treatment options in severe fungal asthma and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. European Respiratory Journal. 2013, 43(5): 1487-1500.

For Research Use Only.