Aspergillus Infections in Cancer Patients

Abstract

INFECTION is the major cause of mortality in patients with acute leukemia and lymphoma.^1-3Among infections in patients with altered host defenses, an increasing incidence of such fungal complications is well established.^4-6Fungal infections caused by<i>Aspergillus</i>spp are second in frequency only to candidiasis in these patient populations.^3-5,7When present,<i>Aspergillus</i>infections are the major contributory factor to their demise,^6,8and are of serious consequence in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy for other circumstances, such as collagen vascular diseases,⁹renal transplants,¹⁰and cardiac transplants.¹¹ The Baltimore Cancer Research Center admits for intensive therapy patients with acute and chronic leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, brain tumors, metastatic sarcomas, and metastatic carcinomas. In the past six years there has been essentially no change in either the basic patient population or in treatment philosophy. The necropsy rate has remained consistently high. Shortly after relocation of the Center to