Aspergillus endocarditis in lung transplant recipients: case report and literature review

Abstract

We present a case of endocarditis caused by Aspergillus in a lung transplant (LT) patient and review 6 previously reported cases. All cases were caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. Five patients (71%) were transplanted due to cystic fibrosis. None of the patients had any previously known valvular heart disease. The time that elapsed between LT surgery and the diagnosis of Aspergillus endocarditis was 8±6 months. Large peripheral emboli were observed in 6 patients (85%); blood cultures were negative in all. Transthoracic echocardiography did not detect the presence of vegetations in 3 patients (43%); the vegetations measured >1.5 cm in all cases. Five patients (71%) died from disseminated disease. Both survivors underwent combined therapy with antifungal drugs and surgical treatment.