Disseminated histoplasmosis in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency: A coincidence or the result of T cell defects?

BACKGROUND

In endemic regions, histoplasmosis is often seen in hosts with defective cell mediated immunity. We report a case of disseminated histoplasmosis in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), a disorder mainly characterized by B cell defects.

METHODS

A 35 year old male with CVID developed fever, headache, dyspnea and pancytopenia within few weeks of swimming in the Tennessee River. After a non-revealing initial evaluation he was transferred to a tertiary facility for fever of unknown origin, where massive splenomegaly was noted. Clinical course was complicated by hypoxia from extensive bilateral lung infiltrates requiring non-invasive ventilation. Urine and serum Histoplasma antigens were positive. He was treated with liposomal amphotericin B followed by itraconazole after clinical improvement within 48 h and discharged home by day 6. Fungal blood cultures sent on day 1 grew Histoplasma capsulatum on day 19. After 5 months splenomegaly completely resolved and he successfully completed one year of treatment with itraconazole.

CONCLUSIONS

Our case highlights the significance of T cell defects in CVID. More research focusing on T cell defects in CVID is required to understand the extent of vulnerability to such intracellular pathogens in CVID.