E-ISSN 2149-388X | ISSN 2149-0430
 

Letter to the Editor 


Letter to the Editor: Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Heart Transplantation Recipient

Chao-kun Chen, Chien-ming Chao.


Abstract
A 53-year-old male, a heart transplantation recipient for dilated cardiomyopathy under immunosuppressants and with a history of diabetes mellitus, presented with a productive cough and chest pain for days. Additionally, he had a low-grade fever and progressive dyspnea. Chest imaging revealed multiple cavitary lesions, the largest being 8.8 x 6.4 cm over the left upper lobe (Figure 1A, arrows), indicative of fungal infections. Microbiological analysis detected Aspergillus fumigatus in sputum, alongside elevated galactomannan optical density index levels in bronchoalveolar fluid (18) and serum (3.7). Voriconazole was administered, and surgical resection of the large cavity (Figure 1B) was performed, confirming cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis upon histopathological examination. Despite antifungal therapy, the patient's condition deteriorated, resulting in death two weeks later. This case highlights the challenging management of cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients, particularly in the context of heart transplantation and diabetes mellitus. Despite aggressive antifungal therapy and surgical intervention, the poor prognosis underscores the need for early detection and targeted treatment strategies in complex clinical scenarios.

Key words: Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis, Heart Transplantation, Case report


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Chen C, Chao C. Letter to the Editor: Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Heart Transplantation Recipient. Ulutas Med J. 2024; 10(3): 51-52. doi:10.5455/umj.20240715063204


Web Style

Chen C, Chao C. Letter to the Editor: Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Heart Transplantation Recipient. https://www.ulutasmedicaljournal.com/?mno=209909 [Access: March 15, 2025]. doi:10.5455/umj.20240715063204


AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Chen C, Chao C. Letter to the Editor: Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Heart Transplantation Recipient. Ulutas Med J. 2024; 10(3): 51-52. doi:10.5455/umj.20240715063204



Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Chen C, Chao C. Letter to the Editor: Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Heart Transplantation Recipient. Ulutas Med J. (2024), [cited March 15, 2025]; 10(3): 51-52. doi:10.5455/umj.20240715063204



Harvard Style

Chen, C. & Chao, . C. (2024) Letter to the Editor: Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Heart Transplantation Recipient. Ulutas Med J, 10 (3), 51-52. doi:10.5455/umj.20240715063204



Turabian Style

Chen, Chao-kun, and Chien-ming Chao. 2024. Letter to the Editor: Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Heart Transplantation Recipient. THE ULUTAS MEDICAL JOURNAL, 10 (3), 51-52. doi:10.5455/umj.20240715063204



Chicago Style

Chen, Chao-kun, and Chien-ming Chao. "Letter to the Editor: Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Heart Transplantation Recipient." THE ULUTAS MEDICAL JOURNAL 10 (2024), 51-52. doi:10.5455/umj.20240715063204



MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Chen, Chao-kun, and Chien-ming Chao. "Letter to the Editor: Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Heart Transplantation Recipient." THE ULUTAS MEDICAL JOURNAL 10.3 (2024), 51-52. Print. doi:10.5455/umj.20240715063204



APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Chen, C. & Chao, . C. (2024) Letter to the Editor: Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Heart Transplantation Recipient. THE ULUTAS MEDICAL JOURNAL, 10 (3), 51-52. doi:10.5455/umj.20240715063204