Hepatic involvement in a liver transplant recipient with disseminated cryptococcosis

Abstract

Cryptococcosis occurs primarily in immunocompromised patients such as organ transplant recipients. Central nervous system and pulmonary infections are documented most frequently; hepatic involvement is rarely reported. We report a case of early hepatic cryptococcosis in a 54-year-old male liver transplant recipient. Two weeks after orthotopic liver transplant, he was readmitted with fever, malaise, diarrhea, and progressive pulmonary infiltrates. On admission, liver-associated enzymes were decreased from those at discharge after transplantation. Blood and bronchoalveolar lavage cultures were positive for Cryptococcus neoformans. Despite treatment with amphotericin B and flucytosine, the patient developed both marked cholestasis and transaminase elevation. A liver biopsy performed 22 days after admission revealed numerous yeast-like organisms in hepatic sinusoids consistent with C. neoformans. Despite treatment, the patient died 55 days after admission and 66 days after transplantation. Our case illustrates hepatic involvement of cryptococcal infection within the first month following transplantation.