A Study Evaluating Vitamin D in Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis Complicating Asthma

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a immunological pulmonary disorder caused by hypersensitive reaction to spores of Aspergillus fumigatus. The prevalence of disease is about 1-2% in asthmatics and 2-15% in patients with cystic fibrosis. The interest in ABPA stems from the fact that the disease is glucocorticoid-sensitive and early treatment can prevent progression to end-stage lung disease. Recently anti-Th2 therapies have been suggested as treatment for ABPA. Vitamin D has been shown to suppress the Th2 responses and decrease the levels of Th2 interleukins. Hence, the investigators propose to assess the role of vitamin D in treating ABPA.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a immunological pulmonary disorder caused by hypersensitive reaction to spores of Aspergillus fumigatus. The prevalence of disease is about 1-2% in asthmatics and 2-15% in patients with cystic fibrosis. The interest in ABPA stems from the fact that the disease is glucocorticoid-sensitive and early treatment can prevent progression to end-stage lung disease. Systemic steroids remain the mainstay of treatment in ABPA. Antifungal agents are also useful as they reduce fungal load. Newer therapies like omalizumab (anti immunoglobulin E [IgE] antibody), inhalational amphotericin and Anti Th2 therapies are being studied. In pathogenesis of ABPA, there is heightened Th2 activity as a result of type 1 hypersensitive reaction to Aspergillus fumigatus and levels of Th2 cytokines like IL-3, IL-5 and IL-13 and IgE levels are increased in patients with ABPA compared with asthma patients without ABPA. Recently anti Th2 therapies have been suggested as treatment for ABPA. Vitamin D has been shown to suppress the Th2 immunity and decrease the levels of Th2 interleukins. Hence, the investigators propose to assess the role of vitamin D in treatment of ABPA.

Oral prednisolone 0.5 mg/kg/day for four weeks, 0.25 mg/kg/day for four weeks followed by 0.125 mg/kg/day for four weeks. Prednisolone will then be tapered by 5 mg every two weeks and discontinued. The total duration of glucocorticoids will be four months

Oral vitamin D3 tablet, 60,000 IU weekly for 2 months (8 doses) along with Oral prednisolone 0.5 mg/kg/day for four weeks, 0.25 mg/kg/day for four weeks followed by 0.125 mg/kg/day for four weeks. Prednisolone will then be tapered by 5 mg every two weeks and discontinued. The total duration of glucocorticoids will be four months

Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of ABPA as per the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology Working group criteria Treatment naïve Exclusion Criteria: Failure to provide informed consent Enrollment in another trial of ABPA Pregnancy Creatinine more than or equal to 1.5 mg/dL Immunosuppressive states like chronic liver disease, chronic renal failure, cytotoxic therapy, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus and others

Dodamani MH, Muthu V, Thakur R, Pal A, Sehgal IS, Dhooria S, Aggarwal AN, Garg M, Chakrabarti A, Agarwal R. A randomised trial of vitamin D in acute-stage allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis complicating asthma. Mycoses. 2019 Apr;62(4):320-327. doi: 10.1111/myc.12879. Epub 2019 Feb 5.