Aspergillus for patients

Prednisone

Many patients suffering from allergic Aspergillus infection are prescribed Prednisone. This drug is a member of the group of drugs called corticosteroids. These drugs work by suppressing the body's normal inflammatory reaction to infection or injury - this is a very useful and valuable property which is used to treat hundreds of different conditions.

For allergic Aspergillus infections it helps by reducing inflammation of the infected part of the body. Sufferers of ABPA (Allergic BronchoPulmonary Aspergillosis) have an infection of the lungs which would cause breathing difficulties if the condition were not treated with Prednisone to reduce lung tissue swelling. Prednisone thus enables long term relief from potentially serious conditions.

Unfortunately these benefits come at a price. The normal inflammatory response is part of the mechanism which the body uses to fight infection. Disruption of this mechanism leaves the body more likely to become infected by a variety of micro-organisms including Aspergillus - for example people who take inhaled Prednisone can sometimes get Aspergillus or Candida infections of the mouth and throat where the dose of corticosteroid is most highly concentrated.

NOTE: ABPA sufferers are not likely to develop invasive aspergillosis of their lungs as a consequence of taking corticosteroids.

New Treatment: Recent studies show that ABPA sufferers can often reduce high dose corticosteroid treatment by also taking the antifungal drug Sporonax (Itraconazole) in combination (see ABPA in the treatment section of the main website).

Prednisone also has a long list of possible adverse effects, some (but not all*) of which are listed here:-

Common	Infrequent	Rare
acne (spots) poor wound healing thirst indigestion nausea (feeling sick) vomiting (being sick) constipation gaseousness (wind) unpleasant taste diarrhea headache cough dizziness hoarseness appetite gain or loss.	Black, bloody or tarry stool various infections swallowing difficulties Blurred vision halos around lights sore throat fever muscle cramps swollen legs or feet mood change fatigue insomnia (difficulty sleeping) myopathy (muscular weakness) restlessness frequent urination weight gain round face irregular menstrual periods dry mouth euphoria nosebleeds hair growth bone thinning cateracts 'striped' abdomen Thin skin (bruise easily) glucose intolerance (type of diabetes)	Irregular heartbeat Skin rash fever joint pain acute psychosis (loss of contact with reality) hair loss pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) numbness or tingling in hands or feet convulsions thrombophlebitis (inflammation of the wall of a vein) hallucinations joint damage.
If you experience either of the following you should contact your doctor immediately to get advice on the possibility of stopping taking the drug: increased blood pressure (severe headache or blurred vision) sudden weight gain (more than 5 pounds in a day or two).
Life-threatening: Hives rash intense itching faintness If these symptoms are experienced shortly after taking drug - Seek emergency treatment immediately (anaphylaxis).

* Adverse effects other than those listed can occur. Consult your doctor if you experience any symptom which is particularly bothersome or seems unusual.

Useful Links: the following selected links contain more details of this drug and consequences of its use:

Medline drug information on Prednisone Oral

Good pictures of several side effects at the John Hopkins Centre

New Role for an Old Friend: Prednisone Is a Disease-Modifying Agent in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

Therapeutic and adverse effects of glucocorticoids. Written for doctors (difficult to read) but up-to-date and well referenced for the seriously interested patient!

A Crohn's disease site