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Cure of Disseminated Cryptococcal Infection in a Renal Allograft Recipient After Addition of γ‐Interferon to Anti‐Fungal Therapy
Author(s) -
Summers SA,
Dorling A,
Boyle JJ,
Shaunak S
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2005.00947.x
Subject(s) - medicine , transplantation , immunology , disease , organ transplantation , chemotherapy , immune system
The immunosuppressive regimens that are used in solid organ transplantation are potent inhibitors of Th0 as well as Th1 and Th2 cell‐mediated immune responses. This predisposes patients to disseminated cryptococcal infections. Mortality in such patients remains very high despite advances in anti‐fungal chemotherapy. We describe a case of disseminated cryptococcal disease in a renal allograft recipient that failed to respond to prolonged treatment with several anti‐fungal drugs. However, addition of the immuno‐modulator, interferon‐γ, resulted in the formation of granulomas and the resolution of his disease within 4–6 weeks. As we cannot find a similar example of combination therapy for disseminated cryptococcal disease in the solid organ transplant literature, we propose that interferon‐γ could be used in synergy with anti‐fungal drugs to cure disseminated cryptococcal infections in solid organ transplant patients.