[African histoplasmosis: clinical and therapeutic aspects, relation to AIDS. Apropos of 4 cases, including a case with HIV-1-HTLV-1 co-infection]

Abstract

The authors report 4 cases of African histoplasmosis in Zaïrans. The diagnostic was based ou cutaneous (4 patients), bones (3), lymph-nodes (2), and bowel-localizations (1) and was confirmed by the presence of Histoplasma duboisiis yeasts in cutaneous biopsy (4 patients), in pus of abscess or cutaneous lesions (3) and in stools (1). Two HIV seronegatives patients had a good outcome with amphotericin B. One patient died without any treatment. One HIV-1 and HTLV-1 seropositive patient had successful short-term outcome with ketoconazole. Seven others cases of association between African histoplasmosis and AIDS are noted in the literature. They suggest the opportunistic nature of this deep mycosis.