Membranous nephropathy with pulmonary cryptococcosis with improved 1-year follow-up results: A case report

Abstract

Cryptococcosis is frequently found in immunosuppressed patients. It is also a significant opportunistic infection in non-immunocompromised individuals. In this study, we present a rare case of membranous nephropathy (MN) with pulmonary cryptococcosis. A 33-year-old man with MN was referred to our hospital because of dyspnea and weakness for 1 week. Before the above symptoms occurred, the dose of Cyclosporin A was increased again for relapse of MN. Multiple massive or patchy high-density shadows were present on computed tomography of the lung. Initially the patient underwent empirical anti-bacterial therapy, which turned out to be ineffective. As the results of serum cryptococcal latex agglutination tests were positive, the administration of anti-fungal drugs was prescribed. The results of fungal culture and pathologic examination of the lung tissue revealed the findings consistent with Cryptococcus neoformans. The patient was successfully treated with voriconazole followed by fluconazole with satisfactory result. Therefore, in patients with chronic kidney disease, lung lesions with poor bactericidal effects of cephalosporins need further examination to make sure whether there is pulmonary cryptococcosis. Early diagnosis and treatment might contribute to good results. It is a problem worthy of consideration that whether immunosuppressive agents need to be discontinued or not during antifungal therapy.

Keywords

• cryptococcus neoformans
• membranous nephropathy
• pulmonary cryptococcosis
• anti-fungal drugs