Year 2020 / Volume 112 / Number 4
Letter
Invasive aspergillosis of gastrointestinal debut without apparent respiratory involvement in an immunocompetent host

332

DOI: 10.17235/reed.2020.6706/2019

María del Mar Díaz Alcázar, Elena Ruiz Escolano, Francisco Javier Casado Caballero, Eloísa Cervilla Sáez de Tejada,

Abstract
A 72-year-old female presented with abdominal pain and constipation and intestinal dilation was found. Abdominal computed tomography showed two areas of thickening and stenosis in the proximal jejunum and preterminal ileum, with an unknown etiology. Exploratory laparotomy was proposed but the patient suffered a sudden and progressive decrease in consciousness. Cranial computed tomography showed an ischemic area and a midline shift. Brain biopsies suggested infection by Aspergillus Fumigatus. Despite antifungal drugs, the patient had a progressive clinical deterioration and died. The autopsy concluded a systemic infection due to Aspergillus Fumigatus. Invasive aspergillosis is a serious fungal infection and usually occurs in immunocompromised patients. It mainly affects the lungs, followed by the gastrointestinal tract. The most frequent location in gastrointestinal involvement is the small bowel. Gastrointestinal involvement is more frequent in invasive disease. Although, there are case reports of isolated gastrointestinal aspergillosis, even in immunocompetent patients without risk factors. The prognosis is poor.
Share Button
New comment
Comments
No comments for this article
References
1. Kauffman CA. Epidemiology and clinical manifestations. [Internet] Uptodate. [Last updated Aug 2019; access Sep 2019]. Available from: www.uptodate.com
2. Di Franco G, Tagliaferri E, Pieroni E, Benedetti E, Guadagni S, Palmeri M, et al. Multiple small bowel perforations due to invasive aspergillosis in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia: case report and a systematic review of the literature. Infection. 2018;46(3):317-24.
3. McElvanna K, Loughrey MB, Gillespie S, Gardiner KR. Disseminated aspergillosis causing intestinal failure following colectomy for perforated colitis. Frontline Gastroenterol 2016;7(2):110–3.
4. Cha SA, Kim MH, Lim TS, Kim HH, Chang KY, Park HS, et al. Invasive primary colonic aspergillosis in the immunocompetent host without classical risk factors. Yonsei Med J 2015;56(5):1453-6.
5. Bourke B, Hussey S. Chronic infections of the small intestine. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2015;31(2):104-10.
Related articles
Citation tools
Díaz Alcázar M, Ruiz Escolano E, Casado Caballero F, Cervilla Sáez de Tejada E. Invasive aspergillosis of gastrointestinal debut without apparent respiratory involvement in an immunocompetent host. 6706/2019


Download to a citation manager

Download the citation for this article by clicking on one of the following citation managers:

Metrics
This article has received 427 visits.
This article has been downloaded 82 times.

Statistics from Dimensions


Statistics from Plum Analytics

Publication history

Received: 26/10/2019

Accepted: 30/10/2019

Online First: 14/02/2020

Published: 07/04/2020

Article Online First time: 111 days

Article editing time: 164 days


Share
This article hasn't been rated yet.
Reader rating:
Valora este artículo:




Asociación Española de Ecografía Digestiva Sociedad Española de Endoscopia Digestiva Sociedad Española de Patología Digestiva
The Spanish Journal of Gastroenterology is the official organ of the Sociedad Española de Patología Digestiva, the Sociedad Española de Endoscopia Digestiva and the Asociación Española de Ecografía Digestiva
Cookie policy Privacy Policy Legal Notice © Copyright 2023 y Creative Commons. The Spanish Journal of Gastroenterology