Visceral phaeohyphomycosis caused by Alternaria alternata offering a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic challenge
Phaeohyphomycosis is a heterogeneous group of opportunistic infections caused by dematiaceous molds, which are distributed worldwide as plant pathogens but rarely cause human diseases. However, due to the growing populations of immunocompromised patients, these fungi are frequently recognized as imp...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2015-01-01
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| Series: | Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation |
| Online Access: | http://www.sjkdt.org/article.asp?issn=1319-2442;year=2015;volume=26;issue=2;spage=339;epage=343;aulast=Raza |
| _version_ | 1818788801488617472 |
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| author | H Raza R U Khan K Anwar K Muhammad |
| author_facet | H Raza R U Khan K Anwar K Muhammad |
| author_sort | H Raza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Phaeohyphomycosis is a heterogeneous group of opportunistic infections caused by dematiaceous molds, which are distributed worldwide as plant pathogens but rarely cause human diseases. However, due to the growing populations of immunocompromised patients, these fungi are frequently recognized as important human pathogens. We are reporting this very rare, unique case for the first time from Islamabad, Pakistan, describing the association of visceral Phaeohyphomycosis caused by the opportunistic fungus Alternaria alternata, affecting the left kidney, with the immunocompromised state in a young incidentally detected patient with insulin-dependent type I diabetes. The case was diagnosed on the basis of a high index of clinical suspicion, microbial cultures, microscopy, imaging studies and endourological procedures. The patient did not respond well to the highly sensitive Amphotericin B, resulting in loss of the kidney. Therefore, we suggest that clinicians involved in treating immunocompromised patients should have a high degree of clinical suspicion for such opportunistic pathogens to allow timely initiation of the correct diagnostic and therapeutic work-up. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T14:29:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-342e18b2e3044dd986868576e3185180 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1319-2442 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T14:29:26Z |
| publishDate | 2015-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation |
| spelling | doaj.art-342e18b2e3044dd986868576e31851802022-12-21T21:04:37ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsSaudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation1319-24422015-01-0126233934310.4103/1319-2442.152503Visceral phaeohyphomycosis caused by Alternaria alternata offering a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic challengeH RazaR U KhanK AnwarK MuhammadPhaeohyphomycosis is a heterogeneous group of opportunistic infections caused by dematiaceous molds, which are distributed worldwide as plant pathogens but rarely cause human diseases. However, due to the growing populations of immunocompromised patients, these fungi are frequently recognized as important human pathogens. We are reporting this very rare, unique case for the first time from Islamabad, Pakistan, describing the association of visceral Phaeohyphomycosis caused by the opportunistic fungus Alternaria alternata, affecting the left kidney, with the immunocompromised state in a young incidentally detected patient with insulin-dependent type I diabetes. The case was diagnosed on the basis of a high index of clinical suspicion, microbial cultures, microscopy, imaging studies and endourological procedures. The patient did not respond well to the highly sensitive Amphotericin B, resulting in loss of the kidney. Therefore, we suggest that clinicians involved in treating immunocompromised patients should have a high degree of clinical suspicion for such opportunistic pathogens to allow timely initiation of the correct diagnostic and therapeutic work-up.http://www.sjkdt.org/article.asp?issn=1319-2442;year=2015;volume=26;issue=2;spage=339;epage=343;aulast=Raza |
| spellingShingle | H Raza R U Khan K Anwar K Muhammad Visceral phaeohyphomycosis caused by Alternaria alternata offering a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic challenge Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation |
| title | Visceral phaeohyphomycosis caused by Alternaria alternata offering a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic challenge |
| title_full | Visceral phaeohyphomycosis caused by Alternaria alternata offering a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic challenge |
| title_fullStr | Visceral phaeohyphomycosis caused by Alternaria alternata offering a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic challenge |
| title_full_unstemmed | Visceral phaeohyphomycosis caused by Alternaria alternata offering a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic challenge |
| title_short | Visceral phaeohyphomycosis caused by Alternaria alternata offering a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic challenge |
| title_sort | visceral phaeohyphomycosis caused by alternaria alternata offering a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic challenge |
| url | http://www.sjkdt.org/article.asp?issn=1319-2442;year=2015;volume=26;issue=2;spage=339;epage=343;aulast=Raza |
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