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Fungal infection in acute leukemia
Author(s) -
Mirsky Harold S.,
Cuttner Janet
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197208)30:2<348::aid-cncr2820300207>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - medicine , amphotericin b , autopsy , pneumonia , antibiotics , acute leukemia , leukemia , retrospective cohort study , aspergillus , surgery , dermatology , antifungal , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
A retrospective study was made of the postmortem records of 65‐consecutive patients who died with acute leukemia. The records of each patient were examined for evidence of fungal or other infections, days with fever, type of antibiotic and/or antileukemic therapy, and whether treatment included the glucocorticoids. Twenty‐eight per cent of patients had severe fungal infections at autopsy. Only saprophytic fungi were found. The diagnosis was not made premortem in any of the cases. Aspergillus was the most frequent invader; pulmonary involvement was present in all cases. The majority of patients who developed fungal infections had been treated with steroids. Patients with fungal infections had prolonged febrile courses. The diagnosis of fungal infections must be pursued vigorously including biopsy of lung and other organs suspected of involvement. A trial of amphotericin B may be indicated in selected cases where prolonged fever or pneumonia unresponsive to antibiotics is present.