ABSTRACT
Cryptococcus neoformans (CN) is an encapsulated yeast that is found worldwide. It causes self-limiting infections in immunocompetent hosts; however, infections due to CN could be disseminated and potentially life-threatening in immunocompromised hosts. Herein, we present a patient with primary myelofibrosis who received ruxolitinib and developed disseminated cryptococcosis due to CN. We further discuss immune compromising factors indigenous to myeloproliferative neoplasms, ruxolitinib, and immunological pathways associated with janus kinase inhibition. We further review other cases of cryptococcal infections in patients receiving ruxolitinib reported in the literature. The report underscores the importance of suspecting infections with intracellular pathogens early in the course of illness in patients with higher rates of cumulative immunosuppression. A high clinical suspicion should be maintained when caring for such immunosuppressed patients receiving immunomodulatory agents as severe, disseminated infections can present atypically and lead to worse outcomes.
ABSTRACT
Coccidioides is an endemic fungus in the Southwestern United States and Central and South America. Coccidioidomycosis primary infections are typically of the lung with an asymptomatic or self-limiting course. Some infections disseminate to other parts of the body and a few can remain latent for many years. Reactivation of latent fungal disease can occur following an insult to the host immune system. Here, we describe a case of a 76-year-old Caucasian male patient who moved from California to Wisconsin with a history of coccidioidomycosis infection of the left knee that reactivated decades later in his prosthetic knee shortly after being initiated on ibrutinib (Imbruvica), a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). There have been some case reports regarding coccidioidomycosis infections after initiating ibrutinib therapy but none with a 50 year latency period before reactivation. Readers will learn the immunological effects of ibrutinib on the hosts' innate and adaptive immunity and its role in putting the host at risk for invasive fungal infections. We also review the literature and data on treatment regimens and recommendations based on current guidelines.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Late complications and longer-lasting sequelae of COVID-19 infection in adults can occur. Cardiovascular involvement including reduced ejection fraction, coronary artery aneurysms, and pericardial involvement have been reported. Prompt recognition is the first step and secondly, these cardiovascular phenomena require an alternative set of therapeutics from the standard of care for acute COVID-19 infection. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we describe two cases that fulfill the current case definition of the recently defined multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults (MIS-A). One patient is a 27-year-old white female and the other a 21-year-old French creole male, both without any prior medical history. Both were hospitalized and found to have significant cardiac dysfunction and treated with IVIG, high dose aspirin, and corticosteroids with resolution of their acute illnesses and cardiac sequelae. CONCLUSION: Not only does the immediate impact of this viral infection need to be addressed, but also the long-term complications that could arise if not recognized and treated promptly as seen in our two cases. Patients can develop acute cardiovascular collapse and cardiogenic shock which requires high level of care and treatment within an intensive care unit. Depending on the complications, patients may require treatment for congestive heart failure, pericarditis, or even coronary artery disease acutely with close follow up to ensure improvement or resolution.
