Management of Pulmonary Mucormycosis Based on a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Diagnosis in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies: A Report of Four Cases.
Pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) is a life-threatening fungal infection in patients with hematologic malignancies, and early and accurate diagnostic modalities are urgently needed. We conducted a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting these fungi in peripheral blood from four patients with hematologic malignancies who were strongly suspected of having PM. In these four patients, the Rhizopus species was identified in two patients, and the Cunninghamella and Absidia species in one each. Based on these molecular findings, all of the patients were successfully treated via targeted therapy with liposomal amphotericin B. In this report, a PCR analysis proved very useful for managing PM in patients with hematologic malignancies.
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Mie University Hospital, Japan.
Kazuko
K
Ino
Kazunori
K
Nakase
Akiko
A
Nakamura
Yoshiki
Y
Nakamori
Yumiko
Y
Sugawara
Kana
K
Miyazaki
Fumihiko
F
Monma
Atsushi
A
Fujieda
Yuka
Y
Sugimoto
Kohshi
K
Ohishi
Masahiro
M
Masuya
Naoyuki
N
Katayama
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020093:Cunninghamella; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D000935:Antifungal Agents; C068538:liposomal amphotericin B; D000666:Amphotericin B