Abstract

GHADDAR FUENTES, Nabil; VILA TOLEDO, Ana Alicia  and  HERNANDEZ NEGRIN, Halbert. Acute progressive disseminated histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient. Medicentro Electrónica [online]. 2021, vol.25, n.2, pp. 345-354.  Epub Apr 01, 2021. ISSN 1029-3043.

Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis is a unique and rare expression of the infection cause by Histoplasma capsulatum. Its acute forms of presentation usually appear in patients with severe immunodeficiency disorders (mainly HIV). However, even patients without proven immunodeficiency can develop this condition in regions of high endemicity. We present a 47-year-old male patient with a previous history of severe pulmonary histoplasmosis eighteen years earlier. The patient was admitted due to the presence of fever, asthenia, night sweats, dyspnea, dry cough, hepatosplenomegaly, anemia and marked thrombocytopenia. He progressed to acute respiratory failure and was admitted to the intensive care unit requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. Growth of Histoplasma capsulatum was demonstrated in the bronchoalveolar lavage sample and a non-caseating granulomatous reaction was found in the bone marrow, confirming the diagnosis of progressive disseminated histoplasmosis. The patient received amphotericin B treatment and made a full recovery within a few weeks.

Keywords : histoplasmosis; histoplasma; immunity.

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