Future research needed to better identify Aspergillus infection in chronic obstructive disease(COPD) patients and to decrease mortality from the disease
| Epidemiology |
| 1) Incidence of IPA versus Aspergillus colonisation in COPD population |
| 2) Role of steroids (dose?; inhaled?) in predisposing to IPA |
| 3) Existence of specific risk factors related to COPD patients |
| Diagnosis |
| 1) Validation of diagnostic algorithms |
| 2) Place of noninvasive tests including antigenaemia, Aspergillus antibody detection and molecular diagnosis |
| Treatment |
| 1) Validation of voriconazole as first-line therapy |
| 2) Place of combination therapy |
| 3) Place of surgery |
| 4) Immunotherapy |
| Prevention |
| 1) Are there some reliable measures to protect COPD population? |
IPA: invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.