Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis after liver transplantation: rapid and complete response to combined and sequential antifungal therapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is a rare, but severe and potentially fatal, complication after liver transplantation. There is no therapeutic regimen accepted worldwide for both initial and continuation therapy; nevertheless, several options have been proposed.

METHODS:

Case report and review of the pertinent English-language literature.

RESULTS:

In a patient with pulmonary aspergillosis after a liver transplant, combined and sequential therapy with caspofungin and voriconazole with termination of the immunosuppressive regimen and careful management were helpful to control the infection rapidly, possibly because of a positive drug interaction.

CONCLUSION:

In cases of invasive aspergillosis that are refractory to monotherapy, this regimen may be used in an attempt to overcome the infection.

• Authors: Mehmet Fatih Can, Gokhan Yagci, Levent Gorenek, Ergun Tozkoparan, Ismail Ozerhan, Sadettin Cetiner
• Journal: Surgical infections (Surg Infect (Larchmt)) Vol. 9 Issue 1 Pg. 99-104 (Feb 2008) ISSN: 1096-2964 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18363474 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antifungal Agents
• Echinocandins
• Lipopeptides
• Pyrimidines
• Triazoles
• Caspofungin
• Voriconazole

Topics

• Antifungal Agents (therapeutic use)
• Aspergillosis (drug therapy)
• Caspofungin
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Echinocandins (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Immunosuppression Therapy
• Lipopeptides
• Liver Transplantation
• Lung Diseases, Fungal (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pyrimidines (therapeutic use)
• Radiography, Thoracic
• Tomography, Emission-Computed
• Triazoles (therapeutic use)
• Voriconazole