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Processing of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid and Matched Blood for Alveolar Macrophage and CD4+ T-cell Immunophenotyping and HIV Reservoir Assessment
07:21

Processing of Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid and Matched Blood for Alveolar Macrophage and CD4+ T-cell Immunophenotyping and HIV Reservoir Assessment

Published on: June 23, 2019

Prolonged survival of a patient with AIDS and central nervous system aspergillosis

Alicia I Hidron1, Maria C Gongora, Albert M L Anderson

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Medical Mycology
|February 13, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Central nervous system (CNS) aspergillosis is rare in HIV patients and usually fatal. This case shows a patient with an Aspergillus fumigatus brain abscess survived over 10 months with surgery and voriconazole.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurology
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Central nervous system (CNS) aspergillosis is a rare but severe opportunistic infection.
  • It predominantly affects immunocompromised individuals, particularly those with advanced HIV infection.
  • Historically, CNS aspergillosis carries a very high mortality rate.

Observation:

  • A case of an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patient presenting with a brain abscess caused by Aspergillus fumigatus.
  • The patient had a confirmed diagnosis of HIV infection.

Findings:

  • Successful surgical drainage of the Aspergillus fumigatus brain abscess.
  • Treatment with voriconazole, a broad-spectrum antifungal agent.
  • The patient achieved survival for over 10 months post-intervention.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the potential for improved outcomes in CNS aspergillosis with prompt surgical and antifungal management.
  • It suggests that voriconazole may be an effective therapeutic option for Aspergillus brain infections in HIV patients.
  • Further research is warranted to establish optimal treatment protocols for this rare but devastating condition.

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