Acrophialophora levis brain abscess in a kidney transplant patient: A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

We report the first case of Acrophialophora levis causing cerebral phaeohyphomycosis in a solid organ transplantation recipient. A. levis is a rare cause of invasive dematiaceous fungal infection among immunocompromised persons. We describe the clinical course of a kidney transplant patient who presented with acute hemiplegia due to a brain abscess from which A. levis was isolated. We review published clinical cases attributed to Acrophialophora species infection and discuss current limitations in its identification, diagnosis and management.

Keywords

• Acrophialophora levis
• Phaeohyphomycosis
• Brain abscess
• Immunocompromised host
• Kidney transplantation