Primary intestinal aspergillosis after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell rescue

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Infectious Diseases
• Hematology/Oncology

Background:

• Primary invasive aspergillosis of the gastrointestinal tract is uncommon and linked to significant mortality.
• Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) patients are immunocompromised, increasing susceptibility to opportunistic infections like invasive aspergillosis.

Observation:

• A rare case of isolated small bowel aspergillosis is presented in a patient post-ASCT.
• Clinical presentation included abdominal pain, positive galactomannan antigenemia, and Aspergillus fumigatus in stool samples.

Findings:

• Diagnosis was confirmed via pathohistologic examination, with no evidence of invasive aspergillosis at other sites.
• The patient achieved a successful outcome through prompt surgical intervention and a combination antifungal treatment regimen.

Implications:

• This case highlights the possibility of isolated gastrointestinal aspergillosis post-ASCT.
• Early surgical management combined with appropriate antifungal therapy can be effective in treating this rare but severe complication.