Cryptococcus neoformans Fatal Sepsis in a Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patient Treated with Alemtuzumab: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Cryptococcosis is a disseminated fungal disease typically associated with immuno-suppression and characterized by high mortality rates. Cryptococcus neoformans has been reported to be isolated from blood cultures in around 20% of patients with cryptococcosis, and cryptococcemia has been correlated with poor prognosis.

We report a case of fatal C. neoformans fungemia in a neutropenic patient with a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with alemtuzumab. The patient presented with loss of consciousness and died after 5 days of antifungal therapy with liposomal amphotericin B. The international literature regarding opportunistic infections after immunosuppressive therapy with alemtuzumab with particular attention on fun-gal infections has also been reviewed.

Keywords:

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• alemtuzumab
• cryptococcosis
• liposomal amphothericin B