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Disseminated Cellulitic Cryptococcosis in the Setting of Prednisone Monotherapy for Pemphigus Vulgaris
Author(s) -
Yoo Simon S.,
Tran Mark,
Anhalt Grant,
Barrett Terry,
Vonderheid Eric C.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
the journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1346-8138
pISSN - 0385-2407
DOI - 10.1111/j.1346-8138.2003.tb00407.x
Subject(s) - pemphigus vulgaris , medicine , dermatology , pemphigus , prednisone , disease , immunology , pathology , surgery
Cryptococcal infections are seen mainly in immunocompromised hosts. The cutaneous manifestations of infection can include papules, plaques, nodules, vesicles, ulcers, ecchymosis, and, rarely, cellulitis. Cryptococcal meningitis is a life‐threatening complication of this disease. Pemphigus vulgaris is a rare auto‐immune blistering disease that can also be life‐threatening. Treatment of pemphigus commonly entails both corticosteroids and steroid‐sparing agents. We present a case of disseminated cryptococcal infection in a patient with pemphigus vulgaris treated with high dose corticosteroids as monotherapy. This case provides an opportunity to discuss the difficulty of managing two potentially mortal conditions in which the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris may exacerbate the disseminated cryptococcal infection.