Cryptococcosis. Unusual presentation in a patient suffering of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Case report and Review of the literature

VITALE R.G; GIUDICESSI S.L; REY I.H; MAZZEO M.A; RIVERA M.J.; AFELTRA J.

International Journal of Clinical Case Reports and Reviews

Auctores Publishing

Año: 2023

Cryptococcosis is a disseminated fungal disease especially described in HIV patients, although in other non HIV hosts such as those with other immunosuppressions were also described. Cryptococcus neoformans has been reported to be isolated from blood cultures in around 20% of patients with cryptococcosis being correlated with poor prognosis. We report a case of HIV negative patient suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) CD20+, treated with GATLA 2020 AYA protocol that developed disseminated cryptococcosis. Liposomal amphotericin was initiated to treat the fungal disease. However, despite antifungal therapy the patient died within 5 days. Literature on invasive fungal infections in ALL cases is also reviewed, with particular attention to cryptococcosis.