Disseminated Cryptococcosis with Marked Eosinophilia in a Postpartum Woman

Tetsuya Yokoyama; Masako Kadowaki; Makoto Yoshida; Kunihiro Suzuki; Masashi Komori; Tomoaki Iwanaga

doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.9247-17

CASE REPORTS

Disseminated Cryptococcosis with Marked Eosinophilia in a Postpartum Woman

Tetsuya Yokoyama, Masako Kadowaki, Makoto Yoshida, Kunihiro Suzuki, Masashi Komori, Tomoaki Iwanaga

Author information

Keywords: Cryptococcus neoformans, eosinophilia, immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, postpartum period

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS

2018 Volume 57 Issue 1 Pages 135-139

DOI https://doi.org/10.2169/internalmedicine.9247-17

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Abstract

Disseminated cryptococcosis usually develops in immunosuppressed patients. A 33-year-old postpartum woman developed disseminated cryptococcosis with marked eosinophilia. She presented with a cough and a week-long fever. A computed tomography scan showed multiple pulmonary nodules randomly distributed. Eosinophils were observed to have increased in number in both her peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. A transbronchial lung biopsy and cerebrospinal fluid specimens revealed findings consistent with cryptococcal infection. Disseminated cryptococcosis can present with marked eosinophilia of the peripheral blood and lung tissues. Additionally, the postpartum immune status may sometimes be involved in the development of opportunistic infections in previously healthy women.

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