Background:Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a severe opportunistic infection that is not well understood in rheumatological patients.Objectives:To study risk factors, etiology, clinical manifestations and results of treatment of IA in adult rheumatological patients.Methods:Retrospective analysis of 830 patients (1998-2019) with “proven” and “probable” IA (EORTC / MSG, 2019), adults - 699 (84%). The main group included 18 (3%) adult rheumatological patients with IA, a control group included 610 (87%) adult hematological patients. Rheumatological patients were older, the average age was 59 years (21–75) vs 45 years (18–79), p = 0.005, and among them there were more women – 56% vs 42%, p = 0.01.Results:In rheumatological patients with IA, underlying diseases were ANCA-associated vasculitis (28%), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (22%), periarteritis (11%), systemic lupus erythematosus (22%), rheumatic heart disease (11%) and ankylosing spondylitis (6%). In the control group, underlying diseases were acute leukemia (45%), lymphomas (34%), chronic leukemia (9%), multiple myeloma (7%), myelodysplastic syndrome (3%), and other hematological diseases (2%).The main risk factors for IA development in rheumatological patients were: systemic steroids use (89% vs 69%), prolonged lymphocytopenia (76% vs 65%, median - 14 vs 12 days), treatment in ICU (44% vs 18%, p = 0.01), acute or chronic renal failure (39% vs 1%, p = 0.0008) and immunosuppressive therapy (28% vs 25%). Severe neutropenia was noted significantly less frequently (18% vs 83%, p = 0.0001). Additional risk factors were decompensated diabetes mellitus (17% vs 2%, p = 0.004), previous surgery (17% vs 1%, p = 0.001) and organ transplantation (6% vs 0%). In rheumatological patients, lung (83% vs 98%, p = 0.0001) and ≥2 organs (6% vs 8%) involvement were less common. Heart (11% vs 0%), sinuses (6% vs 5%) and central nervous system (6% vs 4%) involvement more often developed. In rheumatological patients, respiratory failure (61 vs 37%, p = 0.03), hemoptysis (28% vs 7%, p = 0.0001) and chest pain (17% vs 7%, p = 0, 04) were noted more often, less often - fever ≥380С (67% vs 85%, p = 0.01) and cough (61% vs 70%). CT signs of lung damage were similar in both groups, but rheumatologic patients were more likely to show an «air crescent» sign and / or destruction cavity (44% vs 10%, p = 0.0001). In rheumatologic patients, IA was more often confirmed by isolation ofAspergillusspp. from BAL (80% vs 45%, p = 0.005) and by histological examination (22% vs 7%, p = 0.01). The main pathogens wereA. fumigatus(50% vs 43%),A. niger(29% vs 32%), andA. flavus(14% vs 17%).Rheumatological patients were less likely to receive antifungal therapy 89% vs 99%, p = 0,0003. The main drug in both groups was voriconazole. The overall 12-week survival did not significantly differ between groups, but was lower in rheumatological patients with IA (69% vs 81%).Conclusion:In rheumatological patients, invasive aspergillosis more often developed at an older age, mainly in women. The main background diseases were ANCA-associated vasculitis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Typical risk factors were steroids and immunosuppressants use, prolonged lymphocytopenia, ICU stay, and renal failure. The main causative agents wereA. fumigatus,A. niger, andA. flavus. The main localization of infection were lungs. Respiratory failure, hemoptysis and heart involvement were typical. The overall 12-week survival of rheumatological patients with invasive aspergillosis was 69%.Disclosure of Interests:None declared
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