Granulomatous interstitial nephritis associated with disseminated histoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient

Abstract

We present a case of a 64-year-old man with a prolonged history of fatigue, weight loss, fever, and kidney failure. Kidney biopsy showed severe granulomatous interstitial nephritis with numerous giant cells. Silver stains identified fungal micro-organisms consistent with Histoplasma species. Despite antifungal treatment, the patient died of overwhelming infection a few weeks later. This report emphasizes the importance of diagnosing histoplasmosis early. A high degree of suspicion is required to make the diagnosis of histoplasmosis in a case of granulomatous interstitial nephritis.