Fulminant Cryptococcus neoformans infection with fatal pericardial tamponade in a patient with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia who was treated with ruxolitinib: Case report and review of fungal pericarditis

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans is a saprophytic fungal pathogen that can cause serious illness in immune-compromised hosts and it presents with a wide variety of clinical symptoms. We present a fatal case of fulminant C. neoformans infection presenting as pericardial tamponade in a 71-year-old male with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia undergoing chemotherapy with the JAK-STAT inhibitor ruxolitinib. We also review the published cases of fungal pericarditis/tamponade. In addition to illustrating an atypical presentation of C. neoformans, this case highlights the risk for opportunistic fungal infections in patients with hematologic malignancies, especially the ones treated with small molecule kinase inhibitors.

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