Pseudomembranous Invasive Tracheobronchial Aspergillosis with Fulminant Hepatitis and Hemophagocytic Syndrome

Intern Med. 2018 Aug 15;57(16):2371-2375. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.9673-17. Epub 2018 Mar 30.

Abstract

Invasive tracheobronchial aspergillosis (ITBA), a rare form of invasive pulmonary Aspergillus infection (IPA), is predominantly confined to the tracheobronchial tree. We herein report a case of ITBA with severe necrotic pseudomembrane in a 57-year-old woman with fulminant hepatitis and hemophagocytic syndrome. Bronchoscopic findings revealed a widespread pseudomembranous formation of the trachea and bronchi. Aspergillus fumigatus was cultured from bronchial lavage fluid, and the histological findings of an endobronchial biopsy revealed necrosis and invasive hyphae. Although she responded to antifungal treatment, she ultimately died of a septic shock with Burkholderia cepacia 57 days after admission.

Keywords: bronchoscopy; fulminant hepatitis; hemophagocytic syndrome; invasive tracheobronchial aspergillosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Aspergillosis / drug therapy*
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / drug effects
  • Bronchi / diagnostic imaging*
  • Bronchi / physiopathology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / microbiology*
  • Female
  • Hepatitis / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / drug therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Trachea / diagnostic imaging*
  • Trachea / physiopathology
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Voriconazole / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Voriconazole