Therapeutic effects of Rheumatoid Arthritis on Aspergillosis development

Abstract

Aspergillosis is a common fungal infection with systemic characteristics, which is caused by various species of Aspergillus. The infection could develop in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients under specific circumstances. Based on the clinical features and type of invasion, aspergillosis could be classified into four main categories, including invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), noninvasive aspergilloma, semi-invasive chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). Treatment with immunosuppressive drugs for inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), increases the infection rate with aspergillosis. RA is an autoimmune disease characterized by several chronic symptoms in the joints, including pain, stiffness, and chronic synovitis. Previous studies have denoted an association between RA and aspergillosis. Inhibitory drugs of tumor necrosis factors and steroids are widely used in the treatment of RA. ABPA and IPA are the most commonly diagnosed diseases in patients with RA. The present study aimed to review the effects of RA and its treatment on the development of aspergillosis.