Fatal Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis in Cirrhosis: A Case Series

Purpose: Coccidioidomycosis is endemic to the Southwest United States and Mexico. In this case series we describe 3 cases, occurring in the Southwest United States, of patients with disseminated coccidioidomycosis infection in cirrhosis, all with a miliary pattern present on chest imaging.

Methods: This case series was performed conducting a review of patients' electronic health records and thorough review of the literature for coccidioidomycosis infection in patients with liver disease.

Results: Three patients with different etiology of liver disease with Model for End-stage Liver Disease - Sodium (MELD-Na) scores >20 had chest imaging findings indicative of a miliary pattern on presentation. Each patient subsequently had extensive infectious disease workup that showed evidence of disseminated coccidioidomycosis. All 3 patients clinically worsened and eventually died.

Conclusions: This case series highlights the severity of disseminated coccidioidomycosis in patients with cirrhosis in an endemic area, as well as potential early clues such as miliary patterns on chest imaging. A review of the literature found a significant connection among potential mechanisms describing why patients with cirrhosis have such adverse outcomes in the setting of disseminated coccidioidomycosis, including cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction and genetic defects in immune functioning.