Article Text
Abstract
Abstract In sarcoidosis, chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) may be associated with significant morbidity, and treatment failure rates are often high, even with newer triazole antifungal agents. We report a treatment regimen of cyclical caspofungin infusions in 10 patients with sarcoidosis and worsening CPA despite oral triazoles.
- Sarcoidosis
- Aspergillus Lung Disease
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Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA, including aspergilloma) complicates 3–12% of cases of sarcoidosis1, and treatment failure rates remain high, even with newer triazole antifungals.2–5 We report a successful treatment regimen of cyclical caspofungin infusions in patients with sarcoidosis and worsening CPA despite oral triazoles.
Sarcoidosis and CPA were diagnosed in accordance with published criteria (described in the online supplement). Ten patients (six men; mean age 43.9±9.0 years) received treatment with caspofungin between 2008 and 2012. Nine patients were treated with oral triazoles (itraconazole n=5, voriconazole n=4) for a minimum of 4 months (up to 24 months) prior to caspofungin. Nine patients were receiving prednisolone (median dose 12.5 mg/day; range 7.5–20 mg), with four patients receiving additional immunosuppressive therapy (methotrexate n=1, azathioprine n=3). High-resolution CT (HRCT) demonstrated destructive fibrocavitary pulmonary changes (including aspergilloma) in all patients (figure 1). Detailed patient information (including treated disease course) is summarised in the online supplement.
Caspofungin was initiated due to progressive pulmonary fungal disease (including weight loss) in seven patients and triazole intolerance (rash, hair loss) in two patients. In the 12 months prior to caspofungin, all patients reported worsening respiratory symptoms (including recurrent haemoptysis in six patients), with deteriorating HRCT imaging in nine patients. Lung function deteriorated in seven patients, with a reduction in median total lung diffusion for carbon monoxide (DLco) from 42% (range 33–73%) to 34% (range 24–70%) (p=0.05) and a trend downward in spirometric lung volumes. Five patients lost weight (3–6 kg), and three patients were underweight (body mass index (BMI) 15.5–19.0) at the time caspofungin was commenced.
Caspofungin infusions were repeated every 12–16 weeks, with maintenance itraconazole (n=6) or voriconazole (n=4) between infusions. During a median follow-up of 16.5 (1–32) months, patients received between one and nine (median of six) cycles of caspofungin. Immunosuppression (including prednisolone) remained unchanged. In nine patients, symptoms (including haemoptysis) and inflammatory markers improved rapidly, with a decrease in median C reactive protein (CRP) from 31 (range 3–94) to 15 (range 3–23) (p=0.02) within 3 months, and sustained improvements in CRP at 6 months (CRP 4; range 1–14) and 12 months (median CRP 11; range 6–14). BMI normalised in two patients (with weight gain of 6 kg and 9 kg) and remained low (although improved) in one patient. In contrast with previous deterioration, HRCT appearances (assessed blinded to treatment) improved in four patients and remained stable in three. In two patients who did not undergo repeat HRCT, repeat chest radiographs stabilised. Follow-up imaging was unavailable in one patient, who died 1 month after caspofungin was commenced. In contrast with deteriorating pulmonary function tests in the 12 months prior to caspofungin, median forced vital capacity and DLco stabilised in the 12 months following caspofungin (see online supplementary table S1). Two patients died during follow-up (of progressive respiratory failure after 4 weeks and cor pulmonale after 32 months).
CPA in sarcoidosis is notoriously difficult to treat and is often associated with a dismal long-term prognosis. Our results suggest that caspofungin may offer a safe and effective therapy in patients with sarcoidosis and progressive CPA.
Supplementary materials
Supplementary Data
This web only file has been produced by the BMJ Publishing Group from an electronic file supplied by the author(s) and has not been edited for content.
Files in this Data Supplement:
- Data supplement 1 - Online supplement
Footnotes
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Contributors GJK, BG and TMM performed data collection, analysis and prepared the manuscript. MRL, RW, EAR and AUW were involved in patient care, contributed to and reviewed the final manuscript. DMH provided radiology input and reviewed the final manuscript. GJK acts as guarantor for overall content of the manuscript.
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Competing interests None.
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Ethics approval Brompton, Harfield & NHLI research ethics committee (REC ref 01-246).
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Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.