title: Primary cryptococcal prostatitis and correlation with serum prostate specific antigen in a renal transplant recipient.
abstract: The prostate gland is a rare site of primary infection due to Cryptococcus neoformans; however, it may serve as a site of its sequestration after an occult or treated disseminated infection. Serum prostate specific antigen may correlate with the severity of prostatic inflammation, but its role as a diagnostic and prognostic marker is unclear. We report the first case of primary cryptococcal prostatitis in a renal transplant recipient. The diagnosis was established based on asymmetrically enlarged prostate gland, markedly elevated serum PSA levels, cryptococcal fungemia, an ultrasound-guided prostatic biopsy that demonstrated cryptococcal fungal elements and growth of C. neoformans on culture. The patient was successfully treated with a prolonged course of fluconazole and remained disease-free for more than 28 months of follow-up. In addition, we present a review of the published literature since 1946 and discuss possible correlation with PSA levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Jackson Park Hospital & Medical Center, 7531 South Stony Island Avenue, Chicago, IL 60649, USA.
authors.forename: Tahseen J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: Tanveer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zamani
authors.forename: Jorge P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Parada
mesh_terms: D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016469:Fungemia / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011472:Prostatitis / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen