Complete resolution of hepatic aspergillosis after non-myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a patient with acute myeloid leukemia

Abstract

Fungal infections due to Aspergillus are a frequent cause of transplant-related mortality. For this reason, leukemic patients with severe fungal infection are usually excluded from conventional allotransplantation. Recently, some authors suggested a role for non-myeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in this subset of patients. We used this therapeutic approach in a patient with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia in second complete remission (CR) with pre-existing hepatic aspergillosis refractory to conventional anti-fungal therapy. A complete regression of hepatic lesions was observed after 3 months from allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Our work confirms previous reports suggesting that non-myeloablative HSCT is effective in patients not eligible for conventional transplantation because of invasive aspergillosis.