Severe cryptococcal-associated neurological immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in a renal transplant recipient treated with adalimumab

Abstract

Cryptococcosis is a major concern in organ transplant recipients. A decrease in immunosuppressants following the initiation of antifungal therapy is currently recommended, but can occasionally be complicated by the onset of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). We report on a case of cryptococcosis in a kidney transplant recipient, compounded by severe neurological IRIS, the outcome of which was unfavorable despite the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha monoclonal antibodies.

Keywords: Cryptococcus neoformans; anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha monoclonal antibody; cryptococcosis; immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome; kidney transplantation.