title: Primary Aspergillus spondylodiscitis in a liver transplant recipient.
abstract: Solid organ transplant recipients are at increased risk for Aspergillus infections. However, the cases of Aspergillus spondylodiscitis are rare and mostly resulted from the hematogenous spread of invasive pulmonary Aspergillosis. Here, we report a case of primary spondylodiscitis in a liver transplant recipient. Six months after transplantation, a chronic and progressive lumbar back pain was presented. The patient had no fever and the white blood cell count was normal. High plasma (1→3)-beta-d-glucan (BDG) level was detected at the time of back pain. The pathogen was Aspergillus flavus. Clinical and radiological healing was achieved through posterior only debridement and voriconazole therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Xin-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zu-de
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Li-Yang
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Gui-Bin
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D015299:Discitis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male