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Zygomycoses in patients with acute leukaemia

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Abstract

Zygomycoses are rare invasive mould infections which mainly occur in immunocompromised patients, especially during prolonged neutropenia. The high mortality rate is due to a high failure rate of both intravital diagnosis and treatment. Exact diagnosis requires microscopic examination and proof by culture. The treatment consists of amphotericin B and surgical debridement. We report four recent cases of zygomycosis among 89 patients with intensively treated acute leukaemia at our institution. Three cases were breakthrough infections since the patients were under voriconazole treatment prior to diagnosis of zygomycosis. Only one patient had premortal diagnosis (paranasal sinus infection) and showed clinical response with amphotericin B and surgical debridement. A review of the literature of these emerging fungal infections is given and is focused on patients with acute leukaemia. In addition, the importance of autopsy as a tool for quality control and epidemiological studies is pointed out.

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Acknowledgement

We thank Professor G. Maschmeyer, Ernst von Bergmann Hospital, Potsdam, Germany, for reviewing the manuscript and his discussion of this topic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Haematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, D-39120, Magdeburg, Germany

    Enrico Schalk, Martin Mohren, Kathleen Jentsch-Ullrich, Astrid Franke & Michael Koenigsmann

  2. Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany

    Frank Dombrowski

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  1. Enrico Schalk
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Correspondence to Enrico Schalk.

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Schalk, E., Mohren, M., Jentsch-Ullrich, K. et al. Zygomycoses in patients with acute leukaemia. Ann Hematol 85, 327–332 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-006-0082-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-006-0082-8

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