Should all tubercular cavities be left alone? Lessons from a heart transplant

Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2019 Jan;35(1):64-67. doi: 10.1007/s12055-018-0714-3. Epub 2018 Aug 1.

Abstract

Fungal infection after solid organ transplantation poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. We present the case of a 50-year-old man who underwent orthotopic heart transplantation for dilated cardiomyopathy with a history of treated pulmonary tuberculosis 10 years pre-transplant. One year post-transplantation, he was admitted with recurrent productive cough and was evaluated to have intracavitory aspergillosis of the lung. He was started on medical therapy with reduction in immunosuppression, but succumbed later with allograft rejection and multiorgan failure. Management of invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised host is a real challenge. Management protocol should be individualised.

Keywords: Aspergillosis; Organ transplantation; Tuberculosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports