Increased awareness of aspergillosis in acute leukemia patients.

Patients with acute leukemia are highly susceptible to severe infections due to neutropenia, ulcerations and, in addition, the immunosuppressive effects of cytostatic chemotherapy [1]. In the present study, we examined the significance of flexible bronchoscopy combined with bronchial lavage and bronchial brush in the assessment of pulmonary infiltrates in patients with acute leukemia. In addition, we determined the therapeutic implications of these procedures and the outcome, and correlated the clinical data with autopsy findings.