Morphological analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in diagnosing pulmonary aspergilloma in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis: A case report.

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder that primarily affects the joints and may be associated with systemic complications. Patients with RA have an increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections, attributable to inherent immune dysregulation as well as immunosuppressive therapies, including tocilizumab, particularly among those with comorbidities or high disease activity. Notably, the use of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, such as adalimumab and etanercept, has been associated with a higher incidence of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. The present study reports a rare case of pulmonary aspergilloma in a 75-year-old female RA patient with prior tuberculosis and long-term tocilizumab use. The patient was diagnosed via bronchoalveolar lavage fluid morphology, fungal culture, Aspergillus galactomannan assay, metagenomic next-generation sequencing and pathology, and the patient achieved symptom resolution and improved imaging after 6 months of treatment with voriconazole. These findings underscore the need for vigilant monitoring and individualized management strategies in this patient population.