Exophiala dermatitidis pneumonia successfully treated with long-term itraconazole therapy.
Exophiala dermatitidis pneumonia is extremely rare. Here we report a case of E. dermatitidis pneumonia successfully treated with long-term itraconazole therapy. A 63-year-old woman without a remarkable medical history developed a dry and chest pain. Chest radiographs revealed consolidation in the middle lobe of the lung. Cytologic examination by bronchoscopy showed filamentous fungi and E. dermatitidis was detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. After 5 months of itraconazole therapy, her symptoms improved and the area of consolidation diminished. Two weeks after discontinuing the itraconazole therapy, the area of consolidation reappeared. Itraconazole therapy was restarted and continued for 7 months. The abnormal shadow observed on the chest X-ray gradually diminished. Over a 27-month follow-up with periodic examination, there was no relapse and the patient had a favorable clinical course.
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama-machi, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan.
Yutaka
Y
Mukai
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama-machi, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan. Electronic address: nureki@oita-u.ac.jp.
Shin-ichi
S
Nureki
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Oita Red Cross Hospital, 3-2-37, Chiyo-machi, Oita 870-0033, Japan.
Masahiro
M
Hata
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Oita Red Cross Hospital, 3-2-37, Chiyo-machi, Oita 870-0033, Japan.
Takehiko
T
Shigenaga
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama-machi, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan.
Issei
I
Tokimatsu
Center for Community Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama-machi, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan.
Eishi
E
Miyazaki
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, 1-1 Idaigaoka, Hasama-machi, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan.
Jun-ichi
J
Kadota
Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8673, Japan.
Kyoko
K
Yarita
Medical Mycology Research Center, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8673, Japan.
Katsuhiko
K
Kamei
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005093:Exophiala / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017964:Itraconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060446:Phaeohyphomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017964:Itraconazole
Bronchoalveolar lavage; Bronchoscope; Brushing cytology; Exophiala dermatitidis; Itraconazole; Pneumonia