Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome Associated with Hepatosplenic Candidiasis in a Patient with Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia: Possible Pathogenesis and Treatment in the Light of Current Knowledge

Acquired immune deficiencies caused by different etiologies, promote invasive fungal infections. When this immunity begins to improve, it can induce an excessive inflammatory response defined as Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS). Hepatosplenic Candidiasis (HSC) can be considered a form of IRIS syndrome as it occurs following neutrophil recovery in patients treated for acute leukemia. Differentiating IRIS from a single fungal infection or treatment failure due to a similar clinical picture is a real diagnostic problem. Misdiagnosis and subsequently ineffective treatment with antifungal therapy instead of anti-inflammatory drugs, may lead fatal course of the disease. A deep and prolonged neutropenia developed after the first induction chemotherapy in our two and a half-year-old male patient who was followed up in our clinic with the diagnosis of Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia (AML). Our patient had fever, abdominal pain as well as his Gamma Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) levels increased during neutropenia recovery. He was diagnosed with hepatosplenic candidiasis, by observing ‘target like abscesses’ on dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) taken for his newly developing symptoms and laboratory findings while recovering neutropenia. After his first and third induction chemotherapy courses, his fever persisted although antifungal therapy, steroid treatment was initiated considering IRIS. After his re-intensification course, because of the same flare-up symptoms, we started immunglobulin in addition to steroid. With methylprednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin, his symptoms improved and significant regression was observed in the lesions ‘target-like abscesses’ on MRI and in the laboratory values. Result: IRIS should be considered for patients with hepatic candidiasis whose have persistent fever despite appropriate antifungal therapy. Glucocorticoid should be started first for an anti-inflammatory effect.