title: Intestinal perforation from gastrointestinal histoplasmosis in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Gastrointestinal involvement with histoplasmosis in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a rare but documented phenomenon. Most patients present with diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain. We present a case of a woman who tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus antibody who developed an intestinal perforation due to Histoplasma capsulatum of the ileum. The patient, whose only risk factor was a blood transfusion 8 years earlier, had been previously diagnosed as having disseminated histoplasmosis with gastrointestinal involvement. While receiving oral antifungal treatment (itraconazole), she developed two separate areas of ileal perforation due to H capsulatum. Complications from gastrointestinal involvement with histoplasmosis, such as perforation, should be considered in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus with signs and symptoms suggesting abdominal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, North Central Bronx Hospital, NY 10467.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Heneghan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petrossian
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Bizer
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications*; D006660:Histoplasmosis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology*