Clinical ReviewCutaneous alternariosis in transplant recipients: Clinicopathologic review of 9 cases
Section snippets
Patients and methods
In a retrospective study from 1991 to 2001, the clinical files of solid organ transplant recipients were reviewed from 3 hospitals in Catalonia, Spain, and those patients given the diagnosis of cutaneous alternariosis were selected.
Following a systematic protocol, the records of patients were evaluated regarding epidemiologic and clinical data using the following criteria: immunologic status and associated diseases, possible source of infection, elementary lesions (nodules, papules, pustules,
Clinical features
Eight men and one woman given the diagnosis of cutaneous alternariosis were studied. The age of patients ranged from 27 to 67 years. All patients were recipient transplants and were following different immunosuppressive treatment regimens (Table I). Three renal transplant recipients were treated with corticosteroids and azathioprine; corticosteroids, azathioprine, and cyclosporine; and corticosteroids, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil, respectively. In one renal transplant recipient the
Discussion
Alternaria species are dematiaceous ubiquitous fungi present in the air, soil, and plants. Alternaria species are rarely invasive in humans, being more often recognized as a well-documented human allergen in the origin of asthma or as a mold on fruits. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis secondary to inhalation of the spores has occasionally been reported.5 Nevertheless, Alternaria acts as a facultative pathogen, especially when an impairment of the immune system is present, and it can cause a wide
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Cited by (78)
Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Alternaria section Alternaria
2023, International Journal of Infectious DiseasesIntricate isavuconazole therapy of a subcutaneous nodule caused by Alternaria infectoria in a heart transplant recipient
2022, Journal of Medical MycologyCitation Excerpt :They are characterized by the formation of grey to black colonies on culture. The Alternaria genus includes more than 80 species [1]. Among them, Alternaria alternata and Alternaria infectoria are the most common species responsible for human infection [2,3].
Feohifomicosis in a renal and pulmonary transplant patient
2018, Medicina ClinicaSubcutaneous Tissue Infections and Abscesses
2018, Principles and Practice of Pediatric Infectious DiseasesPseudo-cutaneous tumor in a renal transplant patient
2017, Annales de PathologieCutaneous alternariosis in a renal transplant patient successfully treated with posaconazole: Case report and literature review
2017, Medical Mycology Case ReportsCitation Excerpt :However, there have been reports of failure with itraconazole, even when in vitro data demonstrates susceptibility in vitro [2]. Voriconazole [19–21], fluconazole [22], Amphotericin B [16,19], and terbinafine [22] have been used in few cases. Surgery alone has been reported to be successful in the case of localized, superficial lesions [23,24].
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Conflicts of interest: None identified.