Cryptococcosis ; complications ; Eosinophilia ; etiology ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Fungal ; complications

A case of Hodgkin's disease which was complicated by disseminated cryptococcemia terminally is reported. The patient was a 19 year old girl and complained of high fever with shaking chins and dyspnea. In the past history, antituberculous treatment was given using PAS, INH and streptomycin for 2 months under the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy and several antibiotics and steroids were also given. On admission, antituberculous treatment was continued and prednisolone was also prescribed. She was discharged 15 days later but was readmitted because of abdominal pain and uncontrolable fever. On the third hospital day, a leftcervical lymphnode biopsy revealed. Hodgkin's disease, paragranuloma type. Endoxan and cobalt 60 irradiation were given to the abdomen. On the sixtieth hospital day, she became irritable and comatose and expired. At autopsy, disseminated Hodgkin's sarcoma was noted involving multiple lymphnodes, esophagus, small and large intestines, pancreas, liver, spleen, diaphragm, lungs, peritoneum, uterus, left ovary and bone marrow. In addition, evidence of cryptococcemia involving kidneys, lungs, heart, brain, pituitary gland and lymphnodes, was noted. A brief review of the literature was also made.
Adult ; Autopsy ; Cryptococcosis/complications* ; Cryptococcosis/pathology ; Female ; Hodgkin Disease/complications* ; Hodgkin Disease/pathology ; Human ; Lymph Nodes/pathology ; Septicemia/etiology*

Bone Diseases, Infectious ; microbiology ; pathology ; Cryptococcosis ; complications ; pathology ; Forearm ; Humans ; Soft Tissue Infections ; microbiology ; pathology

Child ; Cryptococcosis ; complications ; immunology ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; immunology ; pathogenicity ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; T-Lymphocytopenia, Idiopathic CD4-Positive ; complications ; diagnosis

Cryptococcus neoformans commonly causes opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients, especially in patients with AIDS. CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia in AIDS indicates an increased risk of opportunistic infection and a decline in immunological function. Idiopathic CD4 T-lymphocytopenia (ICL) is characterized by depletions in the CD4+ T-cell subsets, without evidence of HIV infection. Immunodeficiency can exist in the absence of laboratory evidence of HIV infection, and T-cell subsets should be evaluated in patients who present with unusual opportunistic infections. We report a case of pulmonary cryptococcosis and lung cancer in a patient with persistently low CD4+ cell counts, without evidence of HIV infection.
Aged ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/*pathology ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/*complications/immunology ; Cryptococcosis/*complications/immunology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/*complications/immunology ; Lymphopenia/*complications/immunology ; Male

Adult ; Biopsy ; Cryptococcosis ; complications ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Skin ; pathology ; Skin Diseases ; etiology ; pathology

Cryptococcosis ; etiology ; pathology ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type I ; complications ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Meningitis, Fungal ; etiology ; pathology

The prevalence of asymptomatic cryptococcal antigenemia (ACA) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected individuals has been observed to be elevated. The prevalence of ACA ranges from 1.3% to 13%, with different rates of prevalence in various regions of the world. We reviewed studies conducted internationally, and also referred to two established expert consensus guideline documents published in China, and we have concluded that Chinese HIV-infected patients should undergo cryptococcal antigen screening when CD4 T-cell counts fall below 200 cells/μL and that the recommended treatment regimen for these patients follow current World Health Organization guidelines, although it is likely that this recommendation may change in the future. Early screening and optimized preemptive treatment for ACA is likely to help decrease the incidence of cryptococcosis, and is lifesaving. Further studies are warranted to explore issues related to the optimal management of ACA.
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; China ; Cryptococcosis/epidemiology* ; Cryptococcus ; HIV Infections/complications* ; Humans ; Meningitis, Cryptococcal

Disseminated cryptococcosis mainly occurs in patients with cell-mediated immunity disorders. A case of disseminated cryptococcosis, in a patient with pituitary Cushing's disease, is reported. Cultures of blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and aspirates of a skin lesion all grew Cryptococcus neoformans. Despite antifungal treatment, with amphotericin-B, the patient died within 3 weeks.
Amphotericin B/therapeutic use ; Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use ; Brain/microbiology/pathology/radiography ; Cryptococcosis/*complications/drug therapy/radiography ; Cushing Syndrome/*complications/microbiology ; Fatal Outcome ; Female ; Human ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Diseases/*complications/microbiology/radiography

X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome (XHIM) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder, caused by mutations of the gene encoding CD40 ligand (CD40L; CD154). We report the clinical manifestations and mutational analysis of the CD40L gene observed in a male patient from a XHIM family. Having hypogammaglobulinemia and elevated IgM, the 3-yr-old boy exhibited the characteristic clinical features of XHIM. The patient suffered from frequent respiratory infections, and chronic enteritis caused by Cryptosporidium parvum. In addition, a lymph node biopsy and a culture from this sample revealed C. neoformans infection. Activated lymphocytes from the patient failed to express CD40L on their surface as assessed by flow cytometry and a missence mutation (W140R) was found at the XHIM hotspot in his CD40L cDNA to confirm the diagnosis. Genetic analysis of the mother and sister showed a heterozygote pattern, indicating carrier status. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the molecular diagnosis of an XHIM patient in Korea.
Animals ; CD40 Ligand/*genetics ; Child, Preschool ; Cryptococcosis/*complications/genetics/immunology ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Cryptosporidiosis/*complications/genetics/immunology ; *Cryptosporidium parvum ; Female ; *Heterozygote ; Humans ; Hypergammaglobulinemia/complications/*diagnosis/genetics/immunology ; Immunoglobulin M/*blood ; Korea ; Male ; Pedigree ; *X Chromosome