Disseminated Histoplasmosis in an Immunocompetent Patient from a Non Endemic Region, North India: Pointers to Potential Endemicity.

Progressive Disseminated Histoplasmosis (PDH) reported worldwide is yet a rare entity in India. Although, usually associated with an underlying immunocompromised state but few reports of this disease in non- immunocompetent individuals have been surfacing in last decade. We report PDH from Himalayan state of Uttarakhand North India in an agriculturist, non immunocompromised who responded well to treatment with no evidence of recurrence of the disease. Of late a number of cases are being reported from this region, an indication that this might be a hot spot of Histoplasma capsulatum.

Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis presenting like chronic parenchymal liver disease with ascites: a rare case report and discussion.

A 82 year old diabetic and hypertensive Muslim man presented with ascites along with features of portal hypertension. Though it initially seemed to be a primary case of chronic parenchymal liver disease, investigations revealed it to be a case of Progressive Disseminated Histoplasmosis (PDH) with bilateral adrenomegaly, hepatosplenomegaly and ascites. The ascites was high SAAG in nature and no evidence of malignancy or tuberculosis could be found. The patient was treated with liposomal amphotericin B and was subsequently discharged on oral itraconazole therapy. On follow-up he was found to be significantly better at 3 months.

Histoplasmosis diseminada progresiva en una cohorte de pacientes coinfectados con el VIH / Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis in a cohort of patients with HIV coinfection

Objetivo: identificar manifestaciones clínicas y métodos de laboratorio conducentes al diagnóstico de histoplasmosis diseminada progresiva (HDP), en una cohorte de pacientes coinfectados con el VIH. Diseño: análisis retrospectivo de historias clínicas. No intervención adicional. Pacientes: cuarenta pacientes con HDP e infección por VIH del Hospital La María, enero de 1992 a diciembre de 2008. Mediciones: datos demográficos, signos, síntomas y exámenes de laboratorio que permitieron el diagnóstico de HDP. Resultados: cuarenta pacientes, 34 hombres (85%), y seis mujeres (15%), con edades promedio de 33.4 y 27 años, respectivamente. En éstos predominaron: tos (77.5%), fiebre (90%) y anorexia con pérdida de peso en 92.5% y 77.4%, respectivamente. Lesiones en piel en 55% y en mucosa en 50%, crecimiento ganglionar en 62.5% y hepatomegalia en 52.5%. Menos frecuentes fueron disnea, esplenomegalia, vómito, diarrea y cefalea. Presentaron anemia el 85%, leucopenia el 52.5% y trombocitopenia el 30% de los pacientes. Exámenes micológicos: directo positivo en 21 muestras, de lavado broncoalveolar siete, piel seis, ganglio 12, biopsia transbronquial una y lesión de mucosa una. Se aisló H. capsulatum en todos los pacientes a partir de muestras de piel 10, ganglio 18, sangre tres, médula ósea una, lavado broncoalveolar (LBA) 10, y mucosa tres. Además, en siete pacientes, el hongo se aisló de más de un sitio anatómico. La serología realizada en 13 pacientes, se mostró reactiva en la inmunodifusión en gel de agar (IDGA) en 11 y en la fijación del complemento (FC) en 10. Conclusión: ante un cuadro clínico compatible con HDP en paciente con infección por VIH que presenta fiebre, pérdida del estado general, crecimiento ganglionar, compromiso medular y piel y mucosas, el laboratorio permitirá confirmar fácilmente el diagnóstico de la sospecha clínica de la entidad (Acta Med Colomb 2011; 36: 63-67).

Objective: to identify the clinical manifestations and laboratory methods leading to the diagnosis of progressive disseminated histoplasmosis (PDH) in a cohort of patients co-infected with HIV. Design: retrospective analysis of case histories. No further intervention. Patients: forty patients with PDH and HIV infection from Hospital La María. January 1992 to December 2008. Measurements: demographic data, signs and symptoms, and laboratory tests leading to the diagnosis of PDH. Results: 40 patients, 34 males (85%) and 6 females (15%), with mean ages of 33.4 and 27 years, respectively. The dominant symptoms were: cough (77.5%), fever (90%), and anorexia with weight loss in 92.5% and 77.4%, respectively. Skin lesions in 55% and mucosal lesions in 50%, enlargement of lymph nodes in 62.5%, and hepatomegaly in 52.5%. Less frequent manifestations were dyspnea, splenomegaly, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache. Anemia was found in 85%, leucopenia in 52.5%, and thrombocytopenia in 30% of the patients. Mycological tests: directly positive in 21 samples: bronchoalveolar lavage (7), skin (6), lymph node (12), transbronchial biopsy (1), and mucosal lesion (1). H. capsulatum was isolated in all patients from samples of: skin (10), lymph node (18), blood (3), bone marrow (1), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (10), and mucosa (3). Moreover, the fungus was isolated in more than one anatomical site in 7 patients. Serology carried out in 13 patients was reactive on agar gel immunodifusion test in 11 cases and on complement fixation in 10 cases. Conclusion: in the face of a clinical picture consistent with PDH in a patient with HIV who presents with fever, constitutional symptoms, enlargement of lymph nodes, and involvement of the bone marrow, skin, and mucous membranes, laboratory testing allows easy confirmation of the clinically suspected condition (Acta Med Colomb 2011; 36: 63-67).