Gastrointestinal bleeding in a kidney transplant recipient

Clin Nephrol. 2024 Mar;101(3):152-154. doi: 10.5414/CN111298.

Abstract

Opportunistic infections are common in transplant recipients, but gastrointestinal bleed is rarely reported to be due to opportunistic fungal infections, and hence could present as a diagnostic challenge. We report a case of disseminated histoplasmosis in a kidney transplant recipient whose initial presentation was acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding with no other symptoms. The colonoscopy showed scattered punchout circular colonic ulcers with biopsy revealing budding yeasts consistent with a diagnosis of histoplasmosis. The patient was successfully treated with a prolonged course of intravenous amphotericin B followed by oral itraconazole.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / diagnosis
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / drug therapy
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Histoplasmosis* / diagnosis
  • Histoplasmosis* / drug therapy
  • Histoplasmosis* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Itraconazole
  • Kidney Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Transplant Recipients

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Itraconazole