Candida albicans–associated necrotizing vasculitis producing life-threatening gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Received 21 July 2009; received in revised form 1 September 2009; accepted 15 September 2009. published online 15 February 2010.

Summary

Patients undergoing treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia are at risk for fungal infections including disseminated candidiasis. We describe a case of systemic Candida albicans infection associated with life-threatening gastrointestinal hemorrhage due to unusual necrotizing vasculitis involving the gastrointestinal tract. We explore the association between Candida and such vasculopathy.

Keywords: Candida, Vasculitis, Fibrinoid necrosis

a Department of Hematology, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland

b Department of Infectious Disease, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland

c Department of Pathology, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland

Corresponding author.

PII: S0046-8177(09)00404-3

doi:10.1016/j.humpath.2009.09.015

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