Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis resulting in respiratory failure during neutrophil recovery from postchemotherapy neutropenia in three patients with acute leukaemia

J Intern Med. 2002 Aug;252(2):173-7. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2796.2002.01012.x.

Abstract

Respiratory failure is a severe complication of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). Its pathogenesis is not well understood. We herein describe three cases of subacute respiratory failure that occurred during the recovery phase of neutropenia following induction chemotherapy for acute leukaemia with IPA. In each case, severe neutropenia (19-85 days), high-grade fever, severe anaemia, the use of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor and increasing infusion volume were noted. As the neutrophil count was recovering, the shadows on the chest X-ray expanded with progressing hypoxia. We should pay attention to the respiratory failure during the recovery phase of neutropenia in patients with IPA.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects*
  • Aspergillosis / complications*
  • Aspergillosis / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / drug therapy*
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / complications*
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neutropenia / chemically induced
  • Neutropenia / complications*
  • Neutrophils
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / microbiology*