INVASIVE ESOPHAGEAL ASPERGILLOSIS ASSOCIATED WITH ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA: Successful Therapy with Combination Caspofungin and Liposomal Amphotericin B

Abstract

Aspergillosis is one of the most common invasive fungal infections in patients with leukemia. In this patient group, this form of Aspergillus infection is a life-threatening condition with a mortality of 50–100%. The lungs are most often affected, but the esophagus can also be involved.The authors report the case of a child with leukemia who developed invasive esophageal aspergillosis. The condition was diagnosed by microscopic examination of endoscopic biopsy specimens. The patient was already receiving empirical liposomal amphotericin B when the diagnosis was made, so a second antifungal (caspofungin) was added to the regimen. This combination was successful. This case to demonstrates a case of successful treatment of invasive esophageal aspergillosis using combination therapy of liposomal amphotericin B and caspofungin.

Keywords:

• acute myelogenous leukemia
• Aspergillus
• caspofungin
• liposomal amphotericin B