Fatal disseminated histoplasmosis presenting as FUO in an immunocompetent Italian host. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bonsignore, Alessandro; Orcioni, Giulio Fraternali; Barranco, Rosario; De Stefano, Francesco; Ravetti, Jean Louis; Ventura, Francesco
• Is Part Of: Legal medicine. Volume 25(2017)
• Page Start: 66
• Page End: 70
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: Disseminated histoplasmosis -- Immunocompetent host -- Fever of unknown origin; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Medical jurisprudence; Periodicals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2017.01.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1344-6223

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Disseminated histoplasmosis presenting as fever of unknown origin. Death of 43-year-old immunocompetent Italian woman. Sporadic and letal infection in Europe. Granulomatous lesions of unclear etiology. Abstract: Histoplasmosis is a relatively rare infectious disease endemic to certain geographic areas such as East Africa, eastern and central United States, western Mexico, Central and South America. Disseminated histoplasmosis has been reported mainly in immunocompromised hosts and in AIDS patients. In this paper we report on a fatal case of undiagnosed disseminated histoplasmosis presenting as fever of unknown origin (FUO) in a 43-year-old Italian woman who, although splenectomized 5 years earlier due to a motor vehicle accident, was otherwise immunocompetent. This case report highlights the fact that, even in Europe, histoplasmosis is an emerging sporadic infection which needs be considered in the differential diagnosis of given clinical scenarios. The proposed case is of blatant forensic concern as it addresses the hypothesis of professional responsibility due to a missed diagnosis of histoplasmosis. A timely diagnosis, with appropriate therapies, could have prevented death. The role of the forensic pathologist is also crucial because the post-mortem diagnosis of histoplasmosis (never considered in the differential diagnosis during prior hospitalization) highlights the importance of a meticulous and thorough autopsy to elucidate the cause of death.