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.

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.

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