Disseminated Cryptococcosis in a patient with idiopathic chylothorax and chylous ascites treated with a denver peritoneo-venous shunt: a case report and review of the literature

Background and Purpose: Disseminated cryptococcosis is an opportunistic infection in immunocompromised individuals. Chronic idiopathic chylothorax and chylous ascites can cause immunodeficiency via loss of immunoglobulin and lymphocytes in the late stage. Case presentation: This study aimed to present a case of disseminated cryptococcosis shortly after duodenal perforation in an immunocompetent patient with idiopathic chylothorax and chylous ascites that had been treated with a Denver peritoneo-venous shunt. Diagnosis of dissemination was confirmed by positive cryptococcal culture of blood, pleural effusion, ascites, and the removed shunt. The patient had low CD۴+ lymphocytes and hypogammaglobulinemia at the onset of cryptococcosis. Conclusion: It should be noted that cryptococcosis can also occur in cases of idiopathic chylothorax and chylous ascites with low CD۴+ or gamma globulin levels. Keywords: Denver peritoneo-venous shunt, Disseminated cryptococcosis, Duodenal perforation, Chylothorax, Chylous ascites

کلیدواژه ها:

Denver peritoneo-venous shunt ، Disseminated cryptococcosis ، duodenal perforation ، chylothorax ، chylous ascites