title: Cerebral aspergillosis in a liver transplant recipient: a case report of long-term survival after combined treatment with liposomal amphotericin B and surgery.
abstract: Cerebral aspergillosis is a life-threatening complication in liver transplant recipients, with mortality rates approaching 100%; treatment with amphotericin B is of limited efficacy because of its poor distribution in the cerebrospinal fluid and its systemic side effects. We report the case of a liver transplant recipient who developed recurrent cerebral Aspergillus fumigatus infection, and was successfully treated by combined surgical excision of the lesion and administration of liposomal amphotericin B. This first report of long-term complication-free survival in a liver transplant recipient suggests that therapy with liposomal amphotericin B may reduce the risk of recurrence of cerebral aspergillosis in these immunocompromised patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Internal Medicine, Transplant Center, University of Padova and Azienda Ospedaliera, Italy.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Iemmolo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossanese
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rotilio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mattisi
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Gerunda
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Merenda
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Crepaldi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Strazzabosco
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006801:Humans; D008081:Liposomes; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D000666:Amphotericin B