Disseminated aspergillosis in an adolescent with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2008 Sep;51(3):423-6. doi: 10.1002/pbc.21601.

Abstract

Disseminated aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients has a mortality rate of almost 100%. Despite the development of new antifungal agents, the outcome of disseminated aspergillosis has only improved slightly, particular in patients with central nervous system (CNS) involvement. The use of combination antifungal therapy might improve the dismal outcome of disseminated aspergillosis. We describe a critically ill adolescent with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who was successfully treated with voriconazole and caspofungin for disseminated aspergillosis with involvement of the lung, brain and thyroid gland.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aspergillosis / drug therapy*
  • Aspergillosis / etiology
  • Aspergillosis / pathology
  • Aspergillus fumigatus
  • Caspofungin
  • Central Nervous System Fungal Infections
  • Echinocandins / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipopeptides
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal
  • Opportunistic Infections
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / complications*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use
  • Thyroid Diseases / microbiology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Triazoles / therapeutic use
  • Voriconazole

Substances

  • Echinocandins
  • Lipopeptides
  • Pyrimidines
  • Triazoles
  • Caspofungin
  • Voriconazole