Factors associated with severity and mortality in patients with confirmed leptospirosis at a regional hospital in northern Taiwan

Background/purposeThe clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory factors associated with disease severity and mortality from confirmed leptospirosis patients in Taiwan are not well known. This retrospective study examined patients with suspected leptospirosis admitted to En-Chu-Kong Hospital, a regional teaching hospital in northern Taiwan.MethodsFrom January 2002 to July 2014, 733 suspected cases were reported to the National Reference Laboratory, 57 of which were identified as laboratory and clinical confirmed. We analyzed the clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory factors associated with disease severity and mortality in 57 cases.ResultsThe mean age was 59.1 ± 18.2 years, 74% were male, and 49% had occupational contact with soil. The major complications were pulmonary involvement (54%), shock (44%), ventilator support (32%), jaundice (32%), hemorrhage (30%), acute kidney injury (30%), meningitis (11%) and myocarditis (2%). Leptospira santarosai serova Shermani was present in 42 (74%) patients and 37 (58%) patients had severe leptospirosis. Sixteen (28%) patients had concomitant infections, including nine patients with bloodstream infection. The only independent predictor for severe leptospirosis was shock (OR 14.8, 95% CI 2.97–73.59). Eleven patients died (19%). Acute respiratory distress syndrome with severe pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome (6 patients) was present in 55% of the fatal cases. The factors independently related to mortality were prior steroid use (OR 20.2, 95% CI 1.9–217.5) and hemorrhage (OR 71.2, 95% CI 4.9 – >999.9).ConclusionThese results indicate that shock is a predictor of severe leptospirosis, and prior steroid use and hemorrhage are predictors of death from leptospirosis.     

分期治疗肾移植后的重症肺部感染

背景：肾移植后肺部感染8%-16%发展为重症肺炎,是目前预防与治疗的难点,发生急性呼吸窘迫综合征概率高,死亡率高。 目的：回顾性分析肾移植后重症肺部感染的原因、临床特点及治疗经验。 方法：总结2007年7月至2010年3月解放军第四军医大学西京医院泌尿外科收治30例肾移植后肺部重症感染患者的临床资料,肾移植后肺部重症感染多发生于肾移植后6个月,在减少或停用免疫抑制剂用量同时,联合抗感染治疗。 结果与结论：30例患者中,10例死亡,发生上消化道出血6例、心功能衰竭5例、肾功能衰竭2例,3例放弃治疗。1例患者最长使用呼吸机辅助呼吸14 d后痊愈出院。肾移植后的肺部重症感染多为混合感染,作者针对其临床特点创新性地将病程分为3期,病情进展迅速,死亡率高。定期随访和规律复查,以及培养患者自我保护意识,早发现、早治疗能有效预防。及时调整免疫抑制剂用量、用法,根据临床检查经验性选用抗生素、抗真菌、抗病毒、抗结核类药物是治愈关键,根据病情早期使用呼吸机辅助呼吸能有效改善症状。 中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：肾移植;肝移植;移植;心脏移植;组织移植;皮肤移植;皮瓣移植;血管移植;器官移植;组织工程全文链接：     

妊娠高血压综合征性心脏病29例临床分析

目的探讨妊娠高血压综合征性心脏病的诱因及防治措施。方法对7年来我院收治的29例妊娠高血压综合征性心脏病患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果29例患者均为重度妊高征,其中合并低蛋白血症19例（65.5%）、中重度贫血10例（34.5%）、肺部感染7例（24.2%）、双胎妊娠2例（6.9%）。所有孕妇均剖宫产终止妊娠,无孕产妇死亡,围生儿死亡2例（6.4%）。结论重度妊高征合并低蛋白血症、中重度贫血、肺部感染、双胎妊娠是妊高征性心脏病的重要原因。对妊高征性心脏病的诱发因素应引起重视,心衰控制后应立即终止妊娠,以减少母婴死亡。     

Altered factor VIII in acute respiratory failure

Acute respiratory failure is characterized by pulmonary vascular injury and increased endothelial permeability. Since endothelial cells synthesize or release factor VIII, we studied factor VIII:antigen, factor VIII:von Willebrand's factor, and factor VIII:coagulant activity in 100 patients with acute respiratory failure, in 29 critically ill patients without evidence of lung disease, and in 60 normal subjects. As a group, patients with respiratory failure had factor VIII:antigen levels that were five times normal, whereas their factor VIII:coagulant and von Willebrand's activities were normal or above normal. However, there was a remarkable disproportion between the levels of factor VIII:antigen and those of factor VIII:coagulant and von Willebrand's factor. In the other ill patients and in the normal group, these levels were in close proportion. In patients with respiratory failure, both slowly and rapidly migrating components of factor VIII:antigen had abnormal electrophoretic patterns; in moderate and severe cases, there was a marked increase in the fast component. Patients who recovered from acute respiratory failure had electrophoretic patterns that returned toward normal. Factor VIII:antigen may be a sensitive circulating indicator of pulmonary endothelial injury and repair.     

Impact of acute kidney injury on clinical outcomes after ST elevation acute myocardial infarction

Purpose

This study aimed to compare the incidence and clinical significance of transient versus persistent acute kidney injury (AKI) on acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Materials and Methods

The study was a retrospective cohort of 855 patients with STEMI. AKI was defined as an increase of ≥0.3 mg/dL in creatinine level at any point during hospital stay. The study population was classified into 5 groups: 1) patients without AKI; 2) patients with mild AKI that was resolved by discharge (creatinine change less than 0.5mg/dL compared with admission creatinine during hospital stay, transient mild AKI); 3) patients with mild AKI that did not resolve by discharge (persistent mild AKI); 4) patients with moderate/severe AKI that was resolved by discharge (creatinine change more than 0.5 mg/dL compared with admission creatinine, transient moderate/severe AKI); 5) patients with moderate/severe AKI that did not resolve by discharge (persistent moderate/severe AKI). We investigated 1-year all-cause mortality after hospital discharge for the primary outcome of the study. The relation between AKI and 1-year mortality after STEMI was analyzed.

Results

AKI occurred in 74 (8.7%) patients during hospital stay. Adjusted hazard ratio for mortality was 3.139 (95% CI 0.764 to 12.897, p=0.113) in patients with transient, mild AKI, and 8.885 (95% CI 2.710 to 29.128, p<0.001) in patients with transient, moderate/severe AKI compared to patients without AKI. Persistent moderate/severe AKI was also independent predictor of 1 year mortality (hazard ratio, 5.885; 95% CI 1.079 to 32.101, p=0.041).

Conclusion

Transient and persistent moderate/severe AKI during acute myocardial infarction is strongly related to 1-year all cause mortality after STEMI.     

肾移植术后肺部感染23例临床分析

目的分析肾移植术后肺部感染的临床特点和诊治措施。方法对23例肾移植术后并发肺部感染患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果23例患者中巨细胞病毒感染9例,其中合并细菌感染2例。细菌感染7例,其中复合细菌感染1例,细菌合并真菌感染2例;肺部真菌感染4例。发生细菌败血症1例,真菌败血症1例。另3例未检出病原体。经综合治疗本组中22例治愈,1例死亡,为细菌合并真菌感染的重症肺部感染者,死亡原因为急性呼吸窘迫综合征。结论肾移植术后合并肺部感染病情复杂,死亡率较高;可靠的病原学诊断、及时而有效的综合治疗可提高其治愈率。     

Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment for patients with severe COVID-19: a retrospective multicentre study

ObjectivesIntravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is commonly used to treat severe COVID-19, although the clinical outcome of such treatment remains unclear. This study evaluated the effectiveness of IVIG treatment in severe COVID-19 patients.MethodsThis retrospective multicentre study evaluated 28-day mortality in severe COVID-19 patients with or without IVIG treatment. Each patient treated with IVIG was matched with one untreated patient. Logistic regression and inverse probability weighting (IPW) were used to control confounding factors.ResultsThe study included 850 patients (421 IVIG-treated patients and 429 non-IVIG-treated patients). After matching, 406 patients per group remained. No significant difference in 28-day mortality was observed after IPW analysis (average treatment effect (ATE) = 0.008, 95% CI –0.081 to 0.097, p 0.863). There were no significant differences between the IVIG group and non-IVIG group for acute respiratory distress syndrome, diffuse intravascular coagulation, myocardial injury, acute hepatic injury, shock, acute kidney injury, non-invasive mechanical ventilation, invasive mechanical ventilation, continuous renal replacement therapy and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation except for prone position ventilation (ATE = –0.022, 95% CI –0.041 to –0.002, p 0.028).DiscussionIVIG treatment was not associated with significant changes in 28-day mortality in severe COVID-19 patients. The effectiveness of IVIG in treating patients with severe COVID-19 needs to be further investigated through future studies.     

Pathogenesis of Influenza A/H5N1 virus infection in ferrets differs between intranasal and intratracheal routes of inoculation

Most patients infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 virus develop severe pneumonia resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome, with extrarespiratory disease as an uncommon complication. Intranasal inoculation of ferrets with influenza A/H5N1 virus causes lesions in both the respiratory tract and extrarespiratory organs (primarily brain). However, the route of spread to extrarespiratory organs and the relative contribution of extrarespiratory disease to pathogenicity are largely unknown. In the present study, we characterized lesions in the respiratory tract and central nervous system (CNS) of ferrets (n = 8) inoculated intranasally with influenza virus A/Indonesia/5/2005 (H5N1). By 7 days after inoculation, only 3 of 8 ferrets had a mild or moderate bronchointerstitial pneumonia. In contrast, all 8 ferrets had moderate or severe CNS lesions, characterized by meningoencephalitis, choroiditis, and ependymitis, and centered on tissues adjoining the cerebrospinal fluid. These findings indicate that influenza A/H5N1 virus spread directly from nasal cavity to brain, and that CNS lesions contributed more than pulmonary lesions to the pathogenicity of influenza A/H5N1 virus infection in ferrets. In comparison, intratracheal inoculation of ferrets with the same virus reproducibly caused severe bronchointerstitial pneumonia. The method of virus inoculation requires careful consideration in the design of ferret experiments as a model for influenza A/H5N1 in humans.     

Analysis of the different histologic lesions observed in transbronchial biopsy for the diagnosis of acute rejection. Clinicopathologic correlations during the first 6 months after lung transplantation

Acute rejection is an extremely common complication of lung transplantation. (1) To appreciate the interobserver variation in the interpretation of histologic findings and (2) to assess the efficacy of transbronchial biopsy (TBB) for acute rejection diagnosis and associated diseases, particularly infection, we performed a retrospective study including 53 consecutive patients who underwent at least one clinically indicated TBB during the first 6 months after lung transplantation. A total of 94 TBB was obtained. The following histologic features observed in TBB specimens-perivascular mononuclear infiltrates, lymphocytic bronchitis/bronchiolitis, and alveolar lesions, were reliably reproduced by 2 pathologists from the same transplant center, with kappa values ranging from 0.79 to 0.82. For identifying perivascular mononuclear infiltrates, discordance between the 2 observers was significantly associated with moderate/severe alveolar lesions. For the diagnosis of acute rejection, perivascular mononuclear infiltrates had a specificity of 96.5%, a positive predictive value of 97.5%, and a sensitivity of 67.7%, whereas lymphocytic bronchitis/bronchiolitis had a specificity of 56.3% and a sensitivity of 19.4%. Interestingly, there was a positive independent correlation between infection and moderate/severe alveolar histologic lesions ( P < .01). In conclusion, the interobserver agreement between experienced pathologists in TBB interpretation is good. Perivascular mononuclear infiltrates remain the cornerstone for acute rejection diagnosis. The presence of moderate/severe alveolar lesions should prompt to search for infection.     

Serodiagnosis of dengue virus infection in patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital

Dengue is an acute infectious disease of viral etiology. It is probably one of the most important arthropod borne viral disease in terms of human morbidity and mortality. The spectrum of disease ranges from self-limited dengue fever to more severe forms of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) or dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Laboratory diagnosis of dengue virus infection mainly depends on detection of virus specific antibodies. The aim of the study was to correlate the serological results with clinical presentation in patients with a diagnosis of dengue. Eleven out of 15 (73.3%) patients with DHF and DSS had secondary antibody response and mortality was 100% in these patients.     

2019新型冠状病毒导致的致命肺渗漏的病理生理学机制和防治策略:兼论血透的应用与依据

自2019年12月爆发以来,2019新型冠状病毒已在全球造成2872人死亡(截至2020年2月28日),并且有超过8000名患者仍处于严重状况。该病毒和由该病毒引起的医疗状况被分别命名为SARS-CoV-2(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2)和COVID-19(coronavirus disease 2019)。虽然已经广泛应用了抗病毒、对症和功能支持性疗法,每天仍有大量患者死于该病毒感染。SARS-CoV-2主要通过2型肺泡上皮细胞上的血管紧张素转化酶2(angiotensin-converting enzyme 2,ACE2)首先感染肺,其最常见的致命并发症是急性呼吸窘迫综合征(acute respiratory distress syndrome,ARDS)[1]。     

Hantavirus infections

Over the past few decades understanding and recognition of hantavirus infection has greatly improved worldwide, but both the amplitude and the magnitude of hantavirus outbreaks have been increasing. Several novel hantaviruses with unknown pathogenic potential have been identified in a variety of insectivore hosts. With the new hosts, new geographical distributions of hantaviruses have also been discovered and several new species were found in Africa. Hantavirus infection in humans can result in two clinical syndromes: haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) caused by Old World and New World hantaviruses, respectively. The clinical presentation of HFRS varies from subclinical, mild, and moderate to severe, depending in part on the causative agent of the disease. In general, HFRS caused by Hantaan virus, Amur virus and Dobrava virus are more severe with mortality rates from 5 to 15%, whereas Seoul virus causes moderate and Puumala virus and Saaremaa virus cause mild forms of disease with mortality rates <1%. The central phenomena behind the pathogenesis of both HFRS and HCPS are increased vascular permeability and acute thrombocytopenia. The pathogenesis is likely to be a complex multifactorial process that includes contributions from immune responses, platelet dysfunction and the deregulation of endothelial cell barrier functions. Also a genetic predisposition, related to HLA type, seems to be important for the severity of the disease. As there is no effective treatment or vaccine approved for use in the USA and Europe, public awareness and precautionary measures are the only ways to minimize the risk of hantavirus disease.     

妊娠合并肺动脉高压严重程度对围生期结局的影响

目的 探讨妊娠合并肺动脉高压（PAH）患者的临床情况、处理方法及母儿结局。方法 回顾性分析2016年1月~2018年12月在华中科技大学同济医学院附属同济医院收治的26例妊娠合并肺动脉高压患者的临床资料,根据肺动脉收缩压分为轻中度PAH患者及重度PAH患者,比较不同程度PAH患者的病因、心功能分级、终止妊娠孕周、方式及母儿结局。结果 重度PAH患者心功能Ⅲ~Ⅳ级者占66.67%,高于轻中度PAH患者的42.86%,但差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）;重度PAH患者终止妊娠孕周为（28.98±12.01）周,早于轻中度PAH患者的（36.79±3.00）周,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;重度PAH患者全麻率高于轻中度PAH患者（66.67% vs 7.14%）,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;重度PAH患者术中氧饱和度和输液量低于轻中度PAH患者、新生儿出生体重轻及小于胎龄儿发生率高,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;重度PAH患者死亡率、新生儿窒息率高于轻中度PAH患者,但差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）,重度PAH孕妇的新生儿平均体重、小于胎龄儿发生率高于轻中度PAH孕妇,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。结论 妊娠合并PAH患者肺动脉压力越高,围生结局越差,重度PAH患者妊娠可危及母婴健康和生命,不宜妊娠,可妊娠的轻中度患者应在多学科专家的严密监护下妊娠,并选择恰当方式适时终止妊娠,以改善母儿结局。     

SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, skin and immunology – What do we know so far?

The pandemic condition coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can take asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe courses. COVID-19 affects primarily the respiratory airways leading to dry cough, fever, myalgia, headache, fatigue, and diarrhea and can end up in interstitial pneumonia and severe respiratory failure. Reports about the manifestation of various skin lesions and lesions of the vascular system in some subgroups of SARS-CoV-2-positive patients as such features outside the respiratory sphere, are rapidly emerging. Vesicular, urticarial, and maculopapular eruptions and livedo, necrosis, and other vasculitis forms have been reported most frequently in association with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In order to update information gained, we provide a systematic overview of the skin lesions described in COVID-19 patients, discuss potential causative factors, and describe differential diagnostic evaluations. Moreover, we summarize current knowledge about immunologic, clinical, and histologic features of virus- and drug-induced lesions of the skin and changes to the vascular system in order to transfer this knowledge to potential mechanisms induced by SARS-CoV-2.     

肺血管内皮细胞分泌功能的改变与急性肺损伤/急性呼吸窘迫综合征

急性肺损伤(acute lung injury,ALI)/急性呼吸窘迫综合征(acute respiratory distress syndrome, ARDS)是临床上常见的急危重症,病死率高达25%~45%,治疗上主要限于器官功能与全身支持治疗,尤其是呼吸支持治疗,“等待”肺损伤的缓解。在ARDS发病机制中肺血管内皮细胞(pulmonary vascular endothelial cell,PVEC)既是受损的主要靶细胞,更是活跃的炎症和效应细胞,血管内皮细胞(vascular endothelial cell,VEC)的激活和损伤程度与ARDS预后密切相关。本文将主要阐述ALI/ARDS发病机制中PVEC部分分泌功能的改变。     

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVES: To describe the initial clinicolaboratory manifestations and short-term outcome in a series of Nigerian children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: A nonrandomized prospective study of consecutive cases of childhood-onset SLE. Baseline and follow-up clinicolaboratory data were collected and analyzed. Each patient was followed up for 12 months. RESULTS: Eleven children were studied. There were seven girls (F:M, 1.75). Mean ages at lupus onset and diagnosis were 10.0 +/- 2.53 years and 11.2 +/- 2.53 years, respectively. Mean time at onset of renal disease following SLE symptoms onset was 1.22 +/- 0.93 years. All cases were misdiagnosed prior to presentation; diagnosis was delayed in nine patients. Lupus activity was mild, moderate and severe in two, five and four patients, respectively. Hypertension (n = 5), nephrotic syndrome (n = 6), microerythrocyturia (n = 6) and acute renal failure (n = 7) were associated morbidities. Of the 27 presenting clinical features, 17 were nondiagnostic, while 10 were diagnostic. Fever (n = 9) was a major nondiagnostic symptom; major diagnostic manifestations were lupus nephritis (n = 11), arthritis (n = 10) and serositis (n = 7). Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome was diagnosed in three. The glomerular lesions were nonproliferative (n = 1), focal (n = 3) and diffuse (n = 7) proliferative lupus nephritis. Complete remission rate at end-point was 71.4%. Fourteen percent of the patients relapsed. Renal survival and mortality rates were 86.0% and 30.0%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this study, severe renal and extrarenal comorbidities were common; mortality rate was also high. High frequency of misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis were probably responsible for these.     

严重急性呼吸综合征3例尸检病理分析

目的 探讨严重急性呼吸综合征(SARS)患者的病变的病理形态特点及与临床表现的相关性。方法 对3例SARS死亡病例进行尸体解剖,光镜观察各脏器的病理变化,并与临床表现进行联系。结果 肉眼突出的病理改变为双肺的弥漫性出血,镜下为肺泡的急性渗出性、出血性和纤维素性炎症,肺泡毛细血管充血,一些毛细血管内微血栓形成。肺泡壁增厚,单个核细胞浸润,肺泡上皮损伤脱落,肺泡腔内渗出物伴透明膜形成。部分肺泡腔内有纤维素样物质及红细胞,少数肺内支气管动脉内血栓栓塞。淋巴结及脾脏等出血坏死,淋巴细胞衰减。其他实质脏器如肝、心、肾、胰腺等呈非特异性改变,如水样变性,脂肪变性、间质细胞增生等以及3例老年患者此次人院前存在的基础病变。结论 SARS具有其病理形态特点,患者的肺部严重病变及免疫器官的损伤引起相应的临床表现并导致患者死亡。     

Enhanced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in pulmonary plexogenic arteriopathy due to congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) leading to increased pulmonary blood pressure and flow is an important cause of pulmonary plexogenic arteriopathy (PPA). This type of arteriopathy tends to progress to an irreversible stage, hallmarked histologically by the emergence of a number of characteristic lesions, which include concentric laminar intimal proliferation and fibrosis, and plexiform lesions. The pathogenesis of these lesions, which connote a very poor prognosis, is not well understood. Since endothelial cell proliferation has been demonstrated in these lesions, it was hypothesized that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a key mediator of angiogenesis, might play a role in their pathogenesis. Thirty-nine patients with various types of CHD, who underwent cardiac catheterization and subsequent cardiac surgery, were studied prospectively. On the basis of a detailed assessment of the type of cardiac defect, the haemodynamic abnormalities, and the histopathological features evident from open lung biopsies, taken in all instances, patients were histologically grouped into cases with moderate PPA (n=18), advanced PPA (n=7), pulmonary congestive vasculopathy (PCV, n=5), and controls lacking pulmonary hypertension or increased pulmonary blood flow (n=4). Five patients were excluded from analysis because of inadequate sample size or quality. The presence of VEGF was assessed immunohistochemically using standard procedures and was correlated with haemodynamic and histological data. Immunoreactive VEGF was detected in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells in 13 out of 34 cases and was more frequent and more pronounced in patients with the histological lesions of advanced PPA than in those with moderate PPA (p<0.01). VEGF positivity was particularly prominent in the lesions characteristic of advanced PPA. No difference in VEGF expression was observed between controls, PVC, and moderate PPA cases. Measured haemodynamic parameters did not differ significantly between VEGF-positive and VEGF-negative cases. We conclude that VEGF may play a role in the angioproliferative changes of advanced PPA.     

Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of pulmonary invasive fungal infection among adult patients with hematological malignancy in a medical centre in Taiwan, 2008–2013

Background/purposeThis study was aimed to investigate clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of pulmonary invasive fungal infection (IFI) among patients with hematological malignancy.MethodsAll patients with hematological malignancy who were treated at a medical centre from 2008 to 2013 were evaluated. Pulmonary IFI was classified according to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer 2008 consensus.ResultsDuring the study period, 236 (11.3%) of 2083 patients with hematological malignancy were diagnosed as pulmonary IFI, including 41 (17.4%) proven, 75 (31.8%) probable, and 120 (50.8%) possible cases. Among the 116 patients of proven and probable cases of pulmonary IFI, aspergillosis alone (n = 90, 77.6%) was predominant, followed by cryptococcosis alone (n = 9, 7.8%), and mucormycosis (n = 4, 3.4%). The overall incidence of patients with pulmonary IFI was 5.9 per 100 patient-years. The highest incidence (per 100 patient-year) was found in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (13.7) followed by acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (11.3), and myelodysplastic syndrome/severe aplastic anaemia (6.7). Fourteen (5.9%) of the 236 patients with pulmonary IFI died within 12 weeks after diagnosis of pulmonary IFI. Univariate analysis revealed that elderly age (>65 years) (P = 0.034), lack of response to anti-fungal treatment (P < 0.001), and admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) (P < 0.001) were predictors of poor prognosis. However, only admission to the ICU was an independent predictor of poor prognosis for 12-week mortality (P = 0.022) based on multivariate analysis.ConclusionPatients with acute leukaemia and myelodysplastic syndrome/severe aplastic anaemia were at high risk of pulmonary IFI.