Successful treatment of aspergillosis in a 63-years old female patient with a SIOOT protocol of oxygen-ozone autohemotherapy: A case report

Background: Infections caused by the Aspergillus genus are relatively uncommon and typically associated with hospitalization, while only a few cases are linked to environmental exposure to filamentous moulds. These infections can significantly impact pulmonary function, and antifungal therapy may further compromise lung physiology, especially if fungal nodules develop. Consequently, many cases of aspergillosis are not directly treated to avoid additional lung damage. In this case report, we explore a novel approach using ozone therapy to improve clinical outcomes in a patient with pulmonary aspergillosis. To our knowledge, no previous data on the use of this procedure in treating Aspergillus infections have been published in the scientific literature.

Case presentation: A 63-year-old Caucasian female physician presented with persistent cough, mild fever, mucous sputum, fatigue, and general discomfort. After extensive laboratory analyses, she was initially suspected of having a Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection but was later accurately diagnosed with Aspergillus fumigatus. Allergy tests, thyroid function assessments, total-body PET, and maxillofacial imaging did not yield any findings to suggest alternative diagnoses. Aside from mild neutropenia and a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test, which appeared to be laboratory artifacts, the patient showed no significant inflammatory biomarkers, thyroid dysfunction, or signs of allergy. Chest CT revealed Aspergillus nodules with only mild obstructive respiratory impairment, which did not worsen upon administration of salbutamol. Following a period of mild symptoms, her health declined in the summer of 2022, prompting her to pursue ozone therapy at a colleague's recommendation. After twelve oxygen-ozone treatments, her symptoms-including mild fever, cough, discomfort, and fatigue-fully resolved, and a follow-up chest CT showed a reduction in the presence of Aspergillus.

Conclusion: Oxygen-ozone therapy administered through autohemotherapy proved to be a promising treatment for nodular aspergillosis in the lung, highlighting the need for further exploration of the mechanisms behind this positive outcome. This report is particularly relevant for physicians trained in ozone therapy, as it requires specialized professional expertise. This is the first documented case showing a successful outcome of ozone therapy in treating nodular Aspergillus fumigatus lung infection with mild obstructive pulmonary impairment. The favourable results should encourage physicians to consider this therapeutic approach in the future.