title: Disseminated Cryptococcus neoformans infection and Crohn's disease in an immunocompetent patient.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans is a human pathogen ubiquitously present in the environment. It primarily affects immunocompromised patients, but individuals with no underlying disease or immunodeficiency can also be affected. We herein describe the case of a patient found to have Crohn's disease and disseminated cryptococcosis simultaneously. She had no predisposing underlying cause for impaired immunity. Our patient showed signs that would have make it hard to discriminate between an inflammatory bowel disease and an infection if bowel only would have been involved. The patient underwent surgical intervention; medical therapy was effective against Cryptococcus. She is at now being followed-up for Crohn's disease. When dealing with patient affected with inflammatory bowel diseases, careful history taking, objective and instrumental examination are demandable in order not to overlook associated conditions or infectious diseases. Diagnosis and therapy of cryptococcosis infection in patient with Crohn's disease are herein discussed.
authors.affiliation: I Division of General Surgery, Second University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sciaudone
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pellino
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Guadagni
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Somma
authors.forename: Francesco P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: D'Armiento
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Selvaggi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D015725:Fluconazole