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Progressive Disseminated Histoplasmosis and HIV/AIDS: a Dermatological Perspective

  • Fungal Infections of Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue (A Bonifaz, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Progressive disseminated histoplasmosis (PDH) occurs as a result of internal spread of Histoplasma capsulatum from the lungs to organs rich in monocytes. This typically occurs in immunosuppressed patients, such as those with HIV/AIDS. Skin involvement is found in 10 % of all patients with PDH in the USA and in up to 25 % of those with AIDS. Crusted papular or plaque-like lesions are most common, with others being nodular, pustular, ulcerated, vegetative, acneiform, or wart-like. Lesions may be caused by the fungus itself or an immune response to the infection, such as erythema nodosum or erythema multiform. Histopathology demonstrates necrosis of the superficial dermal vessels. The differential diagnosis is broad and varies depending on the location and morphology of the lesion(s). Culture is the gold standard for diagnosis, and first-line treatment is amphotericin B for 1–2 weeks at a dose of 3 mg/kg/day.

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Conflict of Interest

Patricia Chang and Tyson Meaux declare that they have no conflict of interest

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dermatology Service Social Security General Hospital—IGSS, 9ª. Street 7-55 Zone 9, 01009, Guatemala City, Guatemala

    Patricia Chang & Tyson Meaux

  2. Dermatology Elective, Hospital General de Enfermedades IGSS, 9ª. Street 7-55 Zone 9, 01009, Guatemala City, Guatemala

    Tyson Meaux

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  1. Patricia Chang
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Correspondence to Patricia Chang.

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Topical Collection on Fungal Infections of Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue

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Chang, P., Meaux, T. Progressive Disseminated Histoplasmosis and HIV/AIDS: a Dermatological Perspective. Curr Fungal Infect Rep 9, 213–219 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12281-015-0233-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12281-015-0233-2

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