[Immunological reactions in patients with pulmonary aspergilloma]

A 52-year-old man with pulmonary aspergilloma is reported. In immunoassays, type I, III and IV hypersensitivity reactions of Gell & Coombs were observed. The finding of such immunological reactions, especially type I hypersensitivity, has rarely been observed in this disease. The present study was performed to investigate these reactions, especially to determine whether type I allergy participates in pulmonary aspergilloma. We reviewed 126 cases of pulmonary aspergilloma reported in the Japanese literature between January 1980 and April 1991. The following results were obtained: Elevation of serum IgE was observed in 49% of the subjects examined, positive IgE RAST score in 28%, precipitating antibody against A. fumigatus in 79%, and positive lymphocyte stimulation test using A. fumigatus antigen in 68%. In conclusion, type I, III and IV hypersensitivity of Gell & Coombs appears to participate in pulmonary aspergilloma. The occurrence of type I hypersensitivity is not rare in this disease.