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Yang T, Cai Y, Zhu Y. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia with central nervous system Aspergillus infection: A case report and literature review. Exp Ther Med 2024; 27:46. [PMID: 38144920 PMCID: PMC10739171 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.12336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitous in nature, Aspergillus rarely invades the brain to induce infection in general. However, in clinical practice, some patients with hematological malignancies or immunosuppression may suffer from Aspergillus infection of the central nervous system, which arises most commonly as a result of hematogenous dissemination from a pulmonary focus or direct extension from the paranasal sinus infection. Treatment is clinically challenging and the mortality rate is relatively high. Recently, a case diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia was admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, The First People's Hospital of Huzhou (First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, China). During chemotherapy, space-occupying lesions were observed in the right occipital lobe of the patient, and lesion progression was captured. After treatment with surgery, an analysis of specimens collected from the patient was performed and was suggestive of Aspergillus infection. Following the symptomatic therapy with voriconazole, the patient's disease prognosis was favorable. The focus of infection due to pulmonary aspergillosis or Aspergillus sinusitis was not detected in the patient and the focus was not a common site of hematogenous infection. In addition, the patient exhibited no obvious clinical symptoms. In view of the above observations, the possibility of hospital-acquired infection was considered, to which clinicians should be alert.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First People's Hospital of Huzhou (First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University), Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, P.R. China
| | - Yong Cai
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First People's Hospital of Huzhou (First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University), Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, P.R. China
| | - Yaping Zhu
- Department of Pathology, The First People's Hospital of Huzhou (First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University), Huzhou, Zhejiang 313000, P.R. China
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Palmucci JR, Messina JA, Tenor JL, Perfect JR. New anticancer therapeutics impact fungal pathobiology, infection dynamics, and outcome. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011845. [PMID: 38127685 PMCID: PMC10735005 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Julia R. Palmucci
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Julia A. Messina
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Jennifer L. Tenor
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - John R. Perfect
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
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Messina JA, Giamberardino CD, Tenor JL, Toffaletti DL, Schell WA, Asfaw YG, Palmucci JR, Lionakis MS, Perfect JR. Susceptibility to Cryptococcus neoformans Infection with Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Inhibition. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0004223. [PMID: 37404186 PMCID: PMC10429641 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00042-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Patients receiving the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib have an increased likelihood of fungal infections. The objectives of this study were to determine if Cryptococcus neoformans infection severity was isolate dependent with BTK inhibition and whether blocking BTK impacted infection severity in a mouse model. We compared four clinical isolates from patients on ibrutinib to virulent (H99) and avirulent (A1-35-8) reference strains. BTK knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) C57 mice and WT CD1 mice were infected by intranasal (i.n.), oropharyngeal aspiration (OPA), and intravenous (i.v.) routes. Infection severity was assessed by survival and fungal burden (CFU per gram of tissue). Ibrutinib (25 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered daily through intraperitoneal injections. In the BTK KO model, no isolate-dependent effect on fungal burden was observed, and infection severity was not significantly different from that of the WT with i.n., OPA, and i.v. routes. Ibrutinib treatment did not impact infection severity. However, when the four clinical isolates were compared to H99, two of these isolates were less virulent, with significantly longer survival and reduced rates of brain infection. In conclusion, C. neoformans infection severity in the BTK KO model does not appear to be isolate dependent. BTK KO and ibrutinib treatment did not result in significantly different infection severities. However, based on repeated clinical observations of increased susceptibility to fungal infections with BTK inhibitor therapy, further work is needed to optimize a mouse model with BTK inhibition to better understand the role that this pathway plays in susceptibility to C. neoformans infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia A. Messina
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Charles D. Giamberardino
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Tenor
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dena L. Toffaletti
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Wiley A. Schell
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Yohannes G. Asfaw
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Julia R. Palmucci
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michail S. Lionakis
- National Institutes of Health, Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - John R. Perfect
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Drummond RA. What fungal CNS infections can teach us about neuroimmunology and CNS-specific immunity. Semin Immunol 2023; 67:101751. [PMID: 36989541 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Immunity to fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS) is one of the most poorly understood subjects within the field of medical mycology. Yet, the majority of deaths from invasive fungal infections are caused by brain-tropic fungi. In recent years, there have been several significant discoveries in the regulation of neuroinflammation and the role of the immune system in tissue homeostasis within the CNS. In this review, I highlight five important advances in the neuroimmunology field over the last decade and discuss how we should capitalise on these discoveries to better understand the pathogenesis of fungal CNS infections. In addition, the latest insights into fungal invasion tactics, microglia-astrocyte crosstalk and regulation of antifungal adaptive immune responses are summarised in the context of our contemporary understanding of CNS-specific immunity.
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A Systematic Review to Assess the Relationship between Disseminated Cerebral Aspergillosis, Leukemias and Lymphomas, and Their Respective Therapeutics. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8070722. [PMID: 35887477 PMCID: PMC9320744 DOI: 10.3390/jof8070722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Disseminated disease following invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) remains a significant contributor to mortality amongst patients with hematologic malignancies (HMs). At the highest risk of mortality are those with disseminated disease to the central nervous system, known as cerebral aspergillosis (CA). However, little is known about the risk factors contributing to disease amongst HM patients. A systematic review using PRISMA guidelines was undertaken to define HM patient subgroups, preventative measures, therapeutic interventions, and outcomes of patients with disseminated CA following IPA. The review resulted in the identification of 761 records, of which 596 articles were screened, with the final inclusion of 47 studies and 76 total patients. From included articles, the proportion of CA was assessed amongst HM patient subgroups. Further, pre-and post-infection characteristics, fungal species, and mortality were evaluated for the total population included and HM patient subgroups. Patients with acute myeloid leukemia and acute lymphoid lymphoma, patients receiving corticosteroids as a part of their HM therapeutic regimen, and anti-fungal prophylaxis constitute the top identified patient populations at risk for disseminated CA. Overall, information presented here indicates that measures for the prevention of IPA should be taken in higher-risk HM patient subgroups. Specifically, the type of anti-fungal therapy used should be carefully considered for those patients with IPA and increased risk for cerebral dissemination. Additional reports detailing patient characteristics are needed to define further the risk of developing disseminated CA from IPA in patients with HMs.
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Cerebral aspergillosis and facial acneiform lesions following initiation of ibrutinib in a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. IDCases 2021; 26:e01263. [PMID: 34504767 PMCID: PMC8416634 DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A case of a 67-year-old male with CLL, presented with prolonged pancytopenia after his first cycle of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) chemotherapy. He was then treated with ibrutinib oral monotherapy. Shortly after ibrutinib treatment initiation, he developed a brain abscess and pulmonary disease as a part of an invasive aspergillosis. The patient improved after brain abscess drainage and the anti-fungal therapy voriconazole. Upon resuming ibrutinib four months after his hospitalization, he developed extensive acneiform facial lesions. This case is the first to report on the development of two separate complications in one patient related to ibrutinib, namely, Aspergillus infection, and severe acneiform skin lesions.
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Holowka T, Cheung H, Malinis M, Gan G, Deng Y, Perreault S, Isufi I, Azar MM. Incidence and associated risk factors for invasive fungal infections and other serious infections in patients on ibrutinib. J Infect Chemother 2021; 27:1700-1705. [PMID: 34389223 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ibrutinib is a small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks the activity of B cells and other immune effectors and is used in a variety of hematologic malignancies. There have been numerous reports of increased frequency of serious infections including invasive fungal infections (IFI) in patients on ibrutinib. METHODS Demographic and clinical features of all patients receiving ibrutinib at a single tertiary care center were collected from electronic medical records. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to find out the factors associated with infection. RESULTS A total of 244 patients received ibrutinib for hematologic malignancies, of which 44 (18.0%) experienced ≥ 1 serious infection including 5 (2.0%) with IFI (1 pulmonary cryptococcosis, 4 pulmonary aspergillosis), 39 (16.0%) with bacterial infections and 8 (3.3%) with viral infections. Ten patients (4.1%) experienced multiple infections or co-infections while on ibrutinib and 10 (4.1%) expired or were transferred to hospice as a result of infection. In multivariate analysis risk factors that were less common in uninfected versus infected patients included advanced age (73 years vs. 77 years), Eastern Cooperative Oncologic Grade (ECOG) performance score ≥ 2 (6.5% vs. 31.8%) and concurrent use of steroids (4.5% vs. 20.5%) or other cytotoxic agents (0% vs. 4.6%). CONCLUSIONS There was a high rate of serious infection but relatively few IFI in patients receiving ibrutinib. Most patients who developed serious infections while on ibrutinib had additional predisposing risk factors including concurrent use of steroids or other cytotoxic agents, advanced age and frailty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Holowka
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
| | - Harry Cheung
- Yale School of Medicine, 367 Cedar St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
| | - Maricar Malinis
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, USA.
| | - Geliang Gan
- Yale Center for Analytical Science, Yale School of Public Health, PO Box 208034, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
| | - Yanhong Deng
- Yale Center for Analytical Science, Yale School of Public Health, PO Box 208034, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
| | - Sarah Perreault
- Department of Pharmacy, Yale New Haven Health, 20 York St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
| | - Iris Isufi
- Section of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
| | - Marwan M Azar
- Section of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA.
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Shariati A, Didehdar M, Rajaeih S, Moradabadi A, Ghorbani M, Falahati V, Chegini Z. Aspergillosis of central nervous system in patients with leukemia and stem cell transplantation: a systematic review of case reports. Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob 2021; 20:44. [PMID: 34130699 PMCID: PMC8204492 DOI: 10.1186/s12941-021-00452-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Aspergillosis of Central Nervous System (CNS) is a highly lethal infection in patients with leukemia and Stem Cell Transplantation (SCT). Methods Case reports of CNS aspergillosis in patients with leukemia and SCT published between 1990 and August 2020 were gathered using a structured search through PubMed/Medline. Results Sixty-seven cases were identified over the searches of the PubMed bibliographic database and then, 59 cases were included in the final analysis. Europe had the largest share of cases at 57.6% (34 reports), followed by Americas and Asia. Affected patients were predominantly males (58.6%) and the mean age of the patients was 36.1 years, while 62.7% of the patients were under the age of 50 years. The most common leukemia types include Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) at 43.4%, 27.4%, and 23.5%, respectively. Furthermore, stem cell transplantation was reported in 11 cases. The overall mortality was 33%; however, the attributable mortality rate of CNS aspergillosis was 24.5%. Altered mental status, hemiparesis, cranial nerve palsies, and seizures were the clearest manifestations of infection and lung involvement reported in 57% of the patients. Histopathologic examination led to the diagnosis of infection in 57% of the patients followed by culture (23.7%), galactomannan assay (8.5%), and molecular method (3.3%). Amphotericin B and voriconazole were the most frequently used drugs for infection treatment. Good results were not obtained in one-third of the patients treated by voriconazole. Finally, neurosurgical intervention was used for 23 patients (39%). Conclusion CNS aspergillosis is a rapidly progressive infection in leukemic patients. Thus, these patients should be followed up more carefully. Furthermore, management of induction chemotherapy, use of different diagnostic methods, and use of appropriate antifungal can lead to infection control. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12941-021-00452-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aref Shariati
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mojtaba Didehdar
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - Shahin Rajaeih
- ENT and Head and Neck Research Center and Department, The Five Senses Health Institute, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Moradabadi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Khomein University of Medical Sciences, Khomein, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ghorbani
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery, Firoozgar Hospital, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Falahati
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Amirkabir Hospital, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - Zahra Chegini
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Alkharabsheh O, Alsayed A, Morlote DM, Mehta A. Cerebral Invasive Aspergillosis in a Case of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 28:837-841. [PMID: 33567487 PMCID: PMC7985758 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol28010081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors have become an important therapy for untreated and previously treated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Despite improved outcomes, rare adverse events, such as invasive fungal infections, have been reported with the use of first-generation BTK inhibitors. Invasive fungal infections carry a high morbidity and mortality risk. There have been several case reports describing the association between aspergillosis and ibrutinib treatment, but none with acalabrutinib, to our knowledge. In this case report, we describe a patient with CLL who developed an intracranial Aspergillus fumigatus infection while receiving acalabrutinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Alkharabsheh
- Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-251-665-8000; Fax: +1-251-445-8378
| | - Alhareth Alsayed
- Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA;
| | - Diana M. Morlote
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA;
| | - Amitkumar Mehta
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA;
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