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Review
. 2020 Apr;37(2):154-158.
doi: 10.5114/ada.2020.94833. Epub 2020 May 5.

Cutaneous cryptococcosis: an underlying immunosuppression? Clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, diagnostic examinations and treatment

Marcela A Nowak  1 , Anna Putynkowska  2 , Wioletta Barańska-Rybak  1 , Kamila Czarnacka  1 , Maria A Dębska-Ślizień  1
Affiliations
Review

Cutaneous cryptococcosis: an underlying immunosuppression? Clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, diagnostic examinations and treatment

Marcela A Nowak et al. Postepy Dermatol Alergol. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Due to constantly growing population of immunocompromised patients the fungi became a widespread threat to modern medicine. HIV carriers, solid organ transplant recipients constitute most of those patients. Cryptococcosis is a frequent cause of life-threatening infections, affecting mostly immunosuppressed patients. This article presents current knowledge on cryptococcal infections, including epidemiology, clinical aspects, diagnosis and recommended treatment. In reference to our patient, who developed a disseminated and fulminant subtype of the disease, we wanted to underline the need to examine patients thoroughly. The highest aim of those measures would be to avoid lethal consequences.

Keywords: Cryptococcus neoformans; cryptococcosis; dermatomycoses; kidney transplantation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Skin changes (papules with umbilicated centre) in our patient with cryptococcosis
Figure 2
Figure 2
Staining with Alcian blue and mucicarmine affirms presence of cryptococcal organisms
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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