title: Blastomycosis and Pregnancy: An Unusual Postpartum Disease Course.
abstract: Blastomyces dermatitidis is responsible for systemic mycoses. It is predominantly caused by inhalation of spores and often manifests as pneumonia, which can potentially disseminate; however, direct cutaneous inoculation may also occur. Blastomycosis in the perigravid period is exceedingly rare. The partial immunosuppressive state induced by pregnancy can engender more severe infections and is associated with a risk of vertical transmission. Published cases describe postpartum symptomatic improvement accompanying immune reconstitution, even in the absence of treatment. We present a 31-year-old gravid female with multifocal cutaneous blastomycosis. After delivering a healthy full-term infant with no evidence of congenital infection, the patient's cutaneous lesions continued to worsen. At 6 weeks postpartum she was treated with oral itraconazole and demonstrated clinical improvement after 5 months of therapy. This case highlights the importance of prompt disease recognition, understanding of risk factors and initiation of appropriate antifungal therapy of blastomycotic infection occurring in the unique setting of pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Dermatology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill., USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Surprenant
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Dermatology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill., USA.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaniszewska
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Pathology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill., USA.
authors.forename: Kelli
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hutchens
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Dermatology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill., USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Go
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Infectious Diseases, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill., USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Keefe
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Dermatology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill., USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swan
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Dermatology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Ill., USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tung
keywords: Blastomycosis; Cutaneous; Pregnancy