1
|
Chen S, Yu G, Chen M, You Y, Gu L, Wang Q, Wang H, Lai G, Yu Z, Wen W. Comparison of different therapeutic approaches for pulmonary cryptococcosis in kidney transplant recipients: a 15-year retrospective analysis. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1107330. [PMID: 37484845 PMCID: PMC10361058 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1107330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Organ transplant recipients are at increased risk of developing pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) due to weakened cell-mediated immunity caused by immunosuppressors. However, the nonspecific symptoms associated with PC can often lead to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 23 kidney transplant recipients with PC between April 2006 to January 2021. Results The median time from transplantation to the diagnosis of pathology-proven PC 4.09 years. Seventeen patients presented respiratory symptoms, including sputum-producing cough and dyspnea. Additionally, three patients also developed central nervous system (CNS) infections. Chest CT scans frequently revealed nodule-shaped lesions, which can mimic lung carcinoma. Serological tests did not demonstrate any specific changes. Nine patients received surgical resection as treatment. Fourteen patients were treated with antifungal medication only. No recurrence was observed in all 23 patients. Conclusion Our study suggests that fever and sputum-producing cough are common symptoms of PC, and cryptococcal meningitis should not be excluded if corresponding symptoms occur. Fluconazole is a common and effective antifungal agent. Surgical resection should be considered for patients who do not respond well to antifungal therapy. Clinicians should be aware of these findings when evaluating transplant recipients with respiratory symptoms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuyang Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Fuzhou General Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Dongfang Hospital of Xiamen University, The 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistic Support Force, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoqing Yu
- Department of Nephrology, Fuzhou General Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Dongfang Hospital of Xiamen University, The 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistic Support Force, Fuzhou, China
| | - Meiyan Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Fuzhou General Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Dongfang Hospital of Xiamen University, The 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistic Support Force, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yanjing You
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Fuzhou General Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Dongfang Hospital of Xiamen University, The 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistic Support Force, Fuzhou, China
| | - Lei Gu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qing Wang
- The Third Affiliated People’s Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Huijuan Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Fuzhou General Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Dongfang Hospital of Xiamen University, The 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistic Support Force, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guoxiang Lai
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Fuzhou General Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Dongfang Hospital of Xiamen University, The 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistic Support Force, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zongyang Yu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Fuzhou General Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Dongfang Hospital of Xiamen University, The 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistic Support Force, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wen Wen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Fuzhou General Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Dongfang Hospital of Xiamen University, The 900th Hospital of the Joint Logistic Support Force, Fuzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
O’Hern JA, Koenen A, Janson S, Hajkowicz KM, Robertson IK, Kidd SE, Baird RW, Tong SYC, Davis JS, Carson P, Currie BJ, Ralph AP. Epidemiology, management and outcomes of Cryptococcus gattii infections: A 22-year cohort. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2023; 17:e0011162. [PMID: 36877729 PMCID: PMC10019644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cryptococcus gattii is a globally endemic pathogen causing disease in apparently immune-competent hosts. We describe a 22-year cohort study from Australia's Northern Territory to evaluate trends in epidemiology and management, and outcome predictors. METHODS A retrospective cohort study of all C. gattii infections at the northern Australian referral hospital 1996-2018 was conducted. Cases were defined as confirmed (culture-positive) or probable. Demographic, clinical and outcome data were extracted from medical records. RESULTS 45 individuals with C. gattii infection were included: 44 Aboriginal Australians; 35 with confirmed infection; none HIV positive out of 38 tested. Multifocal disease (pulmonary and central nervous system) occurred in 20/45 (44%). Nine people (20%) died within 12 months of diagnosis, five attributed directly to C. gattii. Significant residual disability was evident in 4/36 (11%) survivors. Predictors of mortality included: treatment before the year 2002 (4/11 versus 1/34); interruption to induction therapy (2/8 versus 3/37) and end-stage kidney disease (2/5 versus 3/40). Prolonged antifungal therapy was the standard approach in this cohort, with median treatment duration being 425 days (IQR 166-715). Ten individuals had adjunctive lung resection surgery for large pulmonary cryptococcomas (median diameter 6cm [range 2.2-10cm], versus 2.8cm [1.2-9cm] in those managed non-operatively). One died post-operatively, and 7 had thoracic surgical complications, but ultimately 9/10 (90%) treated surgically were cured compared with 10/15 (67%) who did not have lung surgery. Four patients were diagnosed with immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome which was associated with age <40 years, brain cryptococcomas, high cerebrospinal fluid pressure, and serum cryptococcal antigen titre >1:512. CONCLUSION C. gattii infection remains a challenging condition but treatment outcomes have significantly improved over 2 decades, with eradication of infection the norm. Adjunctive surgery for the management of bulky pulmonary C. gattii infection appears to increase the likelihood of durable cure and likely reduces the required duration of antifungal therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. O’Hern
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Australia
- * E-mail: (APR); (JAO)
| | - Adrian Koenen
- Department of General Surgery, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Australia
| | - Sonja Janson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Australia
| | | | - Iain K. Robertson
- College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Sarah E. Kidd
- National Mycology Reference Centre, SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Robert W. Baird
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Australia
- Territory Pathology, Department of Health, Darwin, Australia
| | - Steven YC Tong
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | - Joshua S. Davis
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | - Phillip Carson
- Department of General Surgery, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Australia
| | - Bart J. Currie
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Australia
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | - Anna P. Ralph
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, Australia
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
- * E-mail: (APR); (JAO)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li H, Ma Y, Zeng Z, Luo L, Li T, Zeng H, Chen Y. Follow-Up of Surgical or Nonsurgical Patients with Pulmonary Cryptococcosis: A Real-World Study. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:3669-3681. [PMID: 35844359 PMCID: PMC9285854 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s352966] [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: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Surgical and medical treatments are applied to pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) in the real world, while the prognosis of different therapies is uncertain. This study investigated diagnosis, real-world therapy, follow-up outcomes, and prognosis factors, aiming to deepen our understanding of PC. Methods Patients pathologically diagnosed with PC were retrospectively reviewed and followed up. Further comparisons and subgroup analyses were conducted in surgical and nonsurgical treatment individuals. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression methods were used to explore the risk factors associated with treatment failure. Results One hundred and sixty-three patients were included in this study, of whom 92 underwent surgical removal of VATS or open lung surgery (68 of them received postoperative antifungal treatment) and 71 got antifungal drugs only. Compared with nonsurgical patients, surgical patients were more immunocompetent (73 [79.3%] cases vs 33 [46.5%]), showed milder symptoms and more limited pulmonary lesions. Although they had instant treatment response owing to lesions resection, there is no significant advantage in the rate of treatment failure. Multivariable regression showed independent predictive factors associated with treatment failure were polymorphonuclear (PMN)>6.30*109/L, albumin (Alb) <40g/L and antifungal dosage <400mg/d. Further analysis among patients with different immune statuses or symptoms demonstrated that sufficient antifungal dosage could reduce the rate of treatment failure. Conclusion PC showed variable and nonspecific clinical features. PC patients with limited nodules/masses and mild symptoms often led to misdiagnosis and unnecessary lung resections. The potential risk factors including higher PMN and hypoalbuminemia could help clinicians to identify PC patients with poor treatment efficiency at an early stage. To note, sufficient antifungal dosage may improve the treatment outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Herui Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiming Ma
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Zihang Zeng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lijuan Luo
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Tiao Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Huihui Zeng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lu Y, Ding M, Huang J, Fu C, Wan Y, Jiang J, Huang J. Clinical characteristics and image features of pulmonary cryptococcosis: a retrospective analysis of 50 cases in a Chinese hospital. BMC Pulm Med 2022; 22:137. [PMID: 35395794 PMCID: PMC8994255 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-022-01930-2] [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: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations and imaging characteristics of pulmonary cryptococcosis, and discuss its guidance in diagnosing. Methods The clinical data of patients diagnosed with cryptococcosis in our hospital from January 2014 to May 2020 were collected and retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into the immunocompromised group and the immunocompetent group. The symptomatic features, laboratory examination, imaging manifestations, and curative effect were analyzed. Results The most common symptoms of patients were cough and sputum production, followed by fever. The immunocompetent group has a significantly higher accident rate of cough and fever than the immunocompromised group, while the immunocompromised group has a significantly higher accident rate of headache and dizziness (P < 0.05). The positive rate of serum cryptococcal capsular antigen (CrAg) test of the two groups were 83.33% and 86.96%, respectively. While the positive rate of CrAg test in cerebrospinal fluid of the immunocompromised group was significantly higher than that of the immunocompetent group (P < 0.05). The lesions of pulmonary cryptococcosis were predominantly present in the lower part of the lung periphery and significantly distributed in the right lung (P < 0.05). The most common imaging finding of pulmonary cryptococcosis was halo sign (64.58%), followed by multiple nodules, and trachea sign was significantly more common in the immunocompetent group. Conclusions Cryptococcosis has an insidious onset, which can infect healthy people as well. Conducting a CrAg test is good for screening and diagnosing cryptococcosis. We should be alert for the high risk of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis in patients with compromised immune function. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-022-01930-2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Lu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ming Ding
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cuiping Fu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi Wan
- Department of Health Service, Air Force Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University), Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jun Jiang
- Department of Health Service, Air Force Medical University (Fourth Military Medical University), Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Jie Huang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, Jiangsu, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tucker M, Sheikh AM, Villanueva MS. Rapidly enlarging pulmonary mass due to immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in an immunocompetent host with pulmonary Cryptococcus neoformans. BMJ Case Rep 2022; 15:e247495. [PMID: 35351746 PMCID: PMC8966528 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-247495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
An immunocompetent man presented with Cryptococcus neoformans disease manifesting as a large pulmonary mass (cryptococcoma). Despite an initial induction course of 4 weeks of liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB), followed by 8 weeks of fluconazole, the cryptococcoma enlarged in size. Ten days into a second course of induction therapy with LAmB and flucytosine, the cryptococcoma markedly increased in size with encroachment on critical vascular structures. Due to concern for immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), prednisone was added with significant decrease in the size of the mass. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pulmonary cryptococcal-IRIS in an immunocompetent host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mollie Tucker
- Infectious Diseases, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Abdul Majeed Sheikh
- Infectious Diseases, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital, Torrington, Connecticut, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hu Y, Ren SY, Xiao P, Yu FL, Liu WL. The clinical and radiological characteristics of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients. BMC Pulm Med 2021; 21:262. [PMID: 34389002 PMCID: PMC8361630 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-021-01630-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We characterized the clinical features, radiographic characteristics, and response to treatment of immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and radiological profiles of patients diagnosed with PC who received surgical resection between May 2015 and November 2020 in a tertiary referral center. Results A total of 21 males and 18 females were included in the study. 23 patients were immunocompetent and 20 out of the 39 were asymptomatic. Immunocompetent patients were diagnosed with PC at a younger age than immunocompromised patients (48.9 vs 57.1 years, P = 0.02). Single nodule pattern was the most frequent lesion pattern (33 out of 39, 84.6%) and right upper lobe was the most common site of location (15 out of 47, 31.9%). The majority of lesions were located peripherally (38 out of 47, 80.9%) and most lesions were 1–2 cm in diameter (30 out of 47, 63.8%). Cavitation was more likely to occur in immunocompromised patients (5 out of 11, 45.5%) than in immunocompetent patients (6 out of 36, 16.7%) (P = 0.04) and there was complete resolution of PC in all patients treated with anti-fungal therapy. Conclusions Immunocompetent patients were diagnosed with PC at a younger age than immunocompromised patients. Single nodule pattern was the most frequent lesion pattern in PC patients. Cavitation was more likely to occur in immunocompromised patients than in immunocompetent patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Hu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Si-Ying Ren
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Peng Xiao
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Feng-Lei Yu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Wen-Liang Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011, China.
| |
Collapse
|