Summary
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is uncommon in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), despite the high incidence of infectious diseases. We describe an HIV-infected patient presenting with disseminated cryptococcosis, who had clear-cut laboratory evidence of progressively worsening DIC (thrombocytopenia, prolonged prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time, hypofibrinogenemia, increased fibrin(ogen) degradation products and D-Dimer, reduced antithrombin III), although the clinical signs of the disease were rather scarce. The patient died despite intense treatment, which included heparin and fresh frozen plasma, and DIC was confirmed histologically. It is suggested that, in a patient with AIDS presenting with an opportunistic infection, laboratory signs of DIC should be carefully checked to early recognize this complication and promptly initiate the required therapy.
Zusammenfassung
Trotz der hohen Inzidenz von Infektionen wird bei AIDS-Kranken nur selten eine diffuse intravasale Gerinnung beobachtet. Wir berichten über einen HIV-infizierten Patienten, der mit einer disseminierten Kryptokokkose aufgenommen wurde. Die Laborwerte zeigten eindeutig die Zeichen einer progredienten diffusen intravasalen Gerinnung mit Thrombozytopenie, verlängerter Prothrombinzeit und partieller Thromboplastinzeit, Hypofibrinogenämie, vermehrt Fibrin(ogen)-Abbauprodukten und D-Dimeren sowie vermindertem Antithrombin III, während die klinische Symptomatik schwach ausgeprägt war. Der Patient verstarb trotz intensiver Therapie mit Heparin und gefrorenem Frischplasma. Die diffuse Gerinnung wurde histologisch bestätigt. Bei AIDS-Kranken, die mit einer opportunistischen Infektion zur Aufnahme kommen, sollte anhand der Laborwerte sorgfältig nach einer diffusen Gerinnung gesucht werden, um diese Komplikation frühzeitig zu erkennen und die erforderlichen therapeutischen Maßnahmen sofort einleiten zu können.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chernoff, D., Sande, M. Cryptococcosis: the most common life-threatening fungal infection in AIDS. AIDS Clin. Care 2 (1990) 1–4.
Patterson, T. F., Andriole, V. T. Current concepts on cryptococcosis. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 8 (1989) 457–465.
Chuck, S. L., Sande, M. A. Infections withCryptococcus neoformans in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. N. Engl. J. Med. 321 (1989) 794–799.
Levitz, S. M. The ecology ofCryptococcus neoformans and the epidemiology of cryptococcosis. Rev. Infect. Dis. 13 (1991) 1163–1169.
Marder, V. J., Martin, S. E., Francis, C. V., Colman, R. V. Consumptive thrombohemorrhagic disorders. In:Colman, R. V., Hirsh, J., Marder, V. J., Salzman, E. W. (eds.): Hemostasis and thrombosis. Basic principles and clinical practice. Lippincott, Philadelphia 1987, pp. 975–1015.
Semeraro, N., Colucci, M. Changes in the coagulation-fibrinolysis balance of endothelial cells and mononuclear phagocytes: role in disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with infectious diseases. Int. J. Clin. Lab. Res. 21 (1992) 214–220.
Fenelon, G., Gray, F., Scaravilli, F., Mahieux, F., Gherardi, R., Chemouilli, P., Guillard, A. Ischaemic myelopathy secondary to disseminated intravascular coagulation in AIDS. J. Neurol. 238 (1991) 51–54.
Gray, F., Geny, C., Lionnet, F., Dournon, E., Fenelon, G., Gherardi, R., Poirier, J. Etude neuropathologique de 135 cas adultes de syndrome d'immuno-déficience acquise (SIDA). Ann. Pathol. 11 (1991) 236–247.
Yao, J. D. C., Arkin, C. F., Doweiko, J. P., Hammer, S. M. Disseminated cryptococcosis diagnosed on peripheral blood smear in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Am. J. Med. 89 (1990) 100–102.
Iones, P. D., Marriot, D., Speed, B. R. Efficacy of fluconazole in cryptococcal meningitis. Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 12 (1989) 2355–2385.
Sugar, A. M., Saunders, C. Oral fluconazole as suppressive therapy of disseminated cryptococcosis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Am. J. Med. 85 (1988) 481–489.
Bick, R. L. Disseminated intravascular coagulation and related syndromes. Sem. Thromb. Hemostas. 14 (1988) 299–338.
Okajima, K., Yang, W. P., Okabe, H., Inone, M., Takatsuki, K. Role of leukocytes in the activation of intravascular coagulation in patients with septicemia. Am. J. Hematol. 36 (1991) 265–271.
Lathey, J. L., Agosti, J. M., Nelson, J. A., Edgington, T. S. A selective defect in tissue factor mRNA expression in monocytes from AIDS patients. Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. 54 (1990) 1–13.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fera, G., De Mitrio, V., Schiraldi, O. et al. Disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with disseminated cryptococcosis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Infection 21, 171–173 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01710541
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01710541