Myocardial infarction caused by Aspergillus embolization in a patient with aplastic anemia

Intern Med. 2006;45(8):547-50. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.45.1607. Epub 2006 May 15.

Abstract

A 38-year-old Japanese man with severe aplastic anemia had invasive pulmonary aspergillosis as a complication. He was treated with amphotericin B for six weeks, but the aspergillosis did not improve. Then he experienced a fatal myocardial infarction. An autopsy revealed disseminated aspergillosis involving pericarditis and Aspergillus embolization to the coronary arteries. This led to the acute myocardial infarction. Cardiac aspergillosis is rare, but should be included within the differential diagnosis when chest pain of unknown origin occurs in an immunosuppressed patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Anemia, Aplastic / complications*
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Aspergillosis / complications*
  • Aspergillosis / drug therapy
  • Coronary Disease / etiology
  • Embolism / etiology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / complications*
  • Lung Diseases, Fungal / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Myocardial Infarction / etiology*
  • Pericarditis / complications

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Amphotericin B