[Disseminated histoplasmosis in AIDS]

A 41-year-old man infected with HIV-1 developed fever up to 39.8 degrees C together with nonproductive cough and dyspnoea. Lactate dehydrogenase concentration rose from a level of 998 U/l to 6307 U/l. As pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was at first suspected he was treated with co-trimoxazole (1600 mg sulfamethoxazole and 320 mg trimethoprim, four times daily). But the symptoms did not abate. Bone-marrow puncture revealed numerous macrophages containing ovoid inclusions typical of Histoplasma capsulatum varietas capsulatum. The diagnosis of disseminated histoplasmosis was confirmed by culture and serologically by an increase in Histoplasma polysaccharide antigen. On treatment with amphotericin B (at first 10 mg, then 50 mg daily for 4 weeks) the symptoms regressed within a few days. After the concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase and Histoplasma antigen had become normal again, maintenance treatment was changed to itraconazole (200 mg twice daily), after a total amphotericin B dose of 1150 mg. The patient has remained free of recurrence.