Claviform aspergillus-related vegetation in the left ventricle of a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

J Clin Ultrasound. 2018 Mar;46(3):231-232. doi: 10.1002/jcu.22501. Epub 2017 Jun 1.

Abstract

A 38-year-old woman was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus and received immunosuppressive therapy. After 6 months of treatment, workup for low-grade fever yielded elevated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers for Aspergillus antigen in serum and ascites, leading to the diagnosis of disseminated aspergillosis. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a claviform vegetation attached to the left ventricular anterior septum. Two days after the start of antifungal Amphotericin-B therapy, the patient suffered from several neurologic disorders. A second transthoracic echocardiography revealed that the vegetation decreased in size. Two weeks later, the vegetation increased again. Combination therapy of Amphotericin-B and Voriconazole was initiated, and the vegetation eventually disappeared completely. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 46:231-232, 2018.

Keywords: Aspergillus; echocardiography; immunosuppressive therapy; infective endocarditis; left ventricle; systemic lupus erythematosus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Aspergillosis / complications
  • Aspergillosis / diagnosis*
  • Aspergillosis / drug therapy
  • Aspergillus / isolation & purification
  • Echocardiography / methods*
  • Female
  • Heart Diseases / complications
  • Heart Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Heart Diseases / drug therapy
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Ventricles / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications*
  • Voriconazole / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Amphotericin B
  • Voriconazole