Disseminated cryptococcosis initially presenting as cellulitis in a rheumatoid arthritis patient.
Infection with Cryptococcus neoformans often occurs in immunocompromised hosts. It is usually acquired by invasion of the respiratory tract, and then the organisms may spread hematogenously to other viscera, mainly the central nervous system. Although there are some reports of primary cutaneous cryptococcosis, cryptococcal skin disease is a rare feature of disseminated cryptococcosis, and has a poor outcome if unrecognized and untreated. We present a case of cryptococcal cellulitis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who was receiving long-term steroid treatment. Reviewing the literature, this is the first report of rheumatoid arthritis with disseminated cryptococcosis initially presenting as cellulitis.
Lu
Hsueh-Chieh
HC
Department of Gastroenterology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Yang
Ying-Ying
YY
Huang
Yu-Lin
YL
Chen
Te-Li
TL
Chuang
Chiao-Lin
CL
Lee
Fa-Yauh
FY
Lee
Shou-Dong
SD
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications*; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male