Unusual presentation of disseminated cryptococcal infection complicated by myocarditis in a heart transplant recipient
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Updated: Jul 21, 2025

Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Kathryn Barros1, John William Tepper2, Juhi Ramchandani2
1Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Diseases & Global Health, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
Background:
Cryptococcus neoformans is the third most common cause of invasive fungal infection in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. While cryptococcal infection can involve any organ, cases of myocarditis are exceedingly rare.
Methods:
A retrospective chart review was completed for this case report.
Results:
We present the case of a 21-year-old heart transplant recipient who developed disseminated cryptococcal infection with biopsy-proven cryptococcal myocarditis.
Conclusions:
Cryptococcal disease in SOT recipients poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. There are no current guidelines for the duration of cryptococcal myocarditis treatment. Repeat myocardial biopsy may play a role in guiding length of therapy.
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