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Review
. 2022 Apr 7;22(1):132.
doi: 10.1186/s12890-022-01921-3.

Allergic bronchopulmonary candidiasis: A review of the literature and a case report

Martin Scurek  1   2 , Eva Pokojova  1   2 , Martina Doubkova  1   2 , Kristian Brat  3   4   5
Affiliations
Review

Allergic bronchopulmonary candidiasis: A review of the literature and a case report

Martin Scurek et al. BMC Pulm Med. .

Abstract

Background: Allergic bronchopulmonary candidiasis (ABPC) is an uncommon clinical syndrome associated with immune hypersensitivity to Candida species.

Case presentation: The case presentation describes a 58-year-old man with acute respiratory failure and bilateral lung infiltrates. Due to high inflammatory markers and a chest X-ray indicating lung infiltration, he was initially treated for pneumonia with combined antibiotics. Despite comprehensive treatment at the ICU, the patient's clinical status deteriorated rapidly, and further investigations provided a rare diagnosis of ABPC. After several days of combined corticosteroid and antifungal therapy, we observed rapid clinical improvement and subsequent resolution of the pulmonary infiltrates.

Conclusion: This case report presented a rare case of ABPC mimicking bilateral pneumonia and acute respiratory failure. Our case highlighted the importance of prompt corticosteroid and antifungal treatment initiation as it resulted in rapid clinical improvement and a near complete reversal of the bilateral lung infiltrates.

Keywords: Allergic bronchopulmonary candidiasis; Allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis; Candida albicans; Pulmonary infiltrates.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Chest X-ray. a at hospital admission showing extensive bilateral infiltrates predominantly in basal segments of the lungs; b two weeks after corticosteroid administration with almost complete resolution of bilateral lung infiltrates
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
High-resolution computed tomography images: a computed tomography axial scan showing almost complete consolidation of both lower lobes; b computed tomography coronal scan showing almost complete consolidation of both lower lobes; c computed tomography coronal scan showing several smaller consolidations in the right upper and middle lobes and in the left upper lobe
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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