Case Report
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World J Gastroenterol. Oct 7, 2012; 18(37): 5312-5314
Published online Oct 7, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i37.5312
Penicillium marneffei chylous ascites in acquired immune deficiency syndrome: A case report
Yin-Zhong Shen, Zhen-Yan Wang, Hong-Zhou Lu
Yin-Zhong Shen, Zhen-Yan Wang, Hong-Zhou Lu, Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China
Author contributions: Shen YZ, Wang ZY and Lu HZ provided medical care; and Shen YZ wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Dr. Hong-Zhou Lu, Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai 201508, China. luhongzhou@fudan.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-21-57248758 Fax: +86-21-57248758
Received: February 19, 2012
Revised: June 25, 2012
Accepted: June 28, 2012
Published online: October 7, 2012
Abstract

Penicillium marneffei (P. marneffei) infection usually occurs with skin, bone marrow, lung or hepatic involvement. However, no cases of P. marneffei infection with chylous ascites have been reported thus far. In this report, we describe the first case of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) which has been complicated by a P. marneffei infection causing chylous ascites. We describe the details of the case, with an emphasis on treatment regimen. This patient was treated with amphotericin B for 3 mo, while receiving concomitant therapy with an efavirenz-containing antiretroviral regimen, but cultures in ascitic fluid were persistently positive for P. marneffei. The infection resolved after treatment with high-dose voriconazole (400 mg every 12 h) for 3 mo. P. marneffei should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chylous ascites in human immunodeficiency virus patients. High-dose voriconazole is an effective, well-tolerated and convenient option for the treatment of systemic infections with P. marneffei in AIDS patients on an efavirenz-containing antiretroviral regimen.

Keywords: Chylous ascites; Penicillium marneffei; Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Voriconazole; Efavirenz; Fungal sepsis