[Cutaneous, pulmonary and bone aspergillosis in a patient presumed immunocompetent presenting subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus].
BACKGROUND
We report a case of cutaneous, pulmonary and bone aspergillosis successfully treated after many years of progression in a patient presumed immunocompetent presenting subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.


METHODS
A 43-year-old man, treated with thalidomide for subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, presented chest pain with haemoptysis and dyspnea. A pulmonary nodule was detected but the microbiological investigation was negative. The histological examination showed granuloma with round structures. No cause was found. Three years later, skin lesions appeared on the patient's face concomitantly with a pulmonary relapse. Histopathological examination of these lesions demonstrated septate hyphae. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated in skin and lung. Disseminated aspergillosis was then diagnosed as spondylodiscitis developed. Treatment with combined voriconazole and caspofungin produced significant and rapid improvement of lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
While aspergillosis is commonly seen in immunocompetent patients, angiotropic dissemination points to cellular immunodepression. Our patient, however, was not presenting immunodepression. We discuss the possible contributory role of thalidomide in dissemination of aspergillosis given that the literature to date contains only one reported case of cutaneous aspergillosis secondary to A. fumigatus in an immunocompetent patient. We would also point out the specific histopathological pattern of this disseminated aspergillosis with both septate hyphae and round structures. Invasive aspergillosis is highly lethal but the chances of recovery are now greater thanks to new antifungal agents.
Domergue
V
V
Service de dermatologie, hôpital Haut-Lévêque, CHU de Bordeaux, 1, avenue de Magellan, 33604 Pessac cedex, France.
Orlandini
V
V
Begueret
H
H
Couprie
B
B
Huerre
M
M
Tunon de Lara
M
M
Beylot-Barry
M
M
Doutre
M-S
MS
D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D001229:Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001850:Bone Diseases, Infectious / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000077336:Caspofungin; D054714:Echinocandins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014230:Triazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D065819:Voriconazole
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014230:Triazoles; D000077336:Caspofungin; D065819:Voriconazole