Pulmonary hypertension as a presenting manifestation of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
Agarwal, R.; Singh, N.; Gupta, D.
Indian Journal of Chest Diseases and Allied Sciences 51(1): 37-40
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 0377-9343 PMID: 19317361 Document Number: 631578
The case of a 46-year-old lady who presented with respiratory failure and pulmonary hypertension in the absence of clinical signs of asthma or bronchiectasis, and in whom a diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergilloma [ABPA] was made subsequently on the basis of radiological and laboratory investigations is reported. Symptomatic and objective improvement was seen with corticosteroid therapy. To the best of the authors' knowledge, such an occurrence has not been reported previously. This case highlights the importance of keeping a high index of suspicion while investigating a patient with pulmonary hypertension in whom the aetiology is not apparent on initial evaluation. Identification of the disease, in its early-stage, can prevent progression to bronchiectasis and fibrotic lung disease, and thus, patients can be saved from the morbidity related to end-stage disease.