Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with decompensated cirrhosis: case series.
BACKGROUND
Opportunistic invasive fungal infections are increasingly frequent in intensive care patients. Their clinical spectrum goes beyond the patients with malignancies, and for example invasive pulmonary aspergillosis has recently been described in critically ill patients without such condition. Liver failure has been suspected to be a risk factor for aspergillosis.


METHODS
We describe three cases of adult respiratory distress syndrome with sepsis, shock and multiple organ failure in patients with severe liver failure among whom two had positive Aspergillus antigenemia and one had a positive Aspergillus serology. In all cases bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was positive for Aspergillus fumigatus. Outcome was fatal in all cases despite treatment with voriconazole and aggressive symptomatic treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Invasive aspergillosis should be among rapidly raised hypothesis in cirrhotic patients developing acute respiratory symptoms and alveolar opacities.
Prodanovic
Hélène
H
Assistance Publique--Hôpitaux de Paris, Service de Pneumologie et Réanimation, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France. helene.prodanovic@psl.ap-hop-paris.fr <helene.prodanovic@psl.ap-hop-paris.fr>
Cracco
Christophe
C
Massard
Julien
J
Barrault
Camille
C
Thabut
Dominique
D
Duguet
Alexandre
A
Datry
Annick
A
Derenne
Jean-Philippe
JP
Poynard
Thierry
T
Similowski
Thomas
T
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D016469:Fungemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications*; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000935:Antifungal Agents