We present the case of a 38 year-old male, farmer, born in Lamas, San Martin (Peruvian jungle), who for the past 8 months suffered of diarrhea, intermittent fever, abdominal pain, weight loss and severe anemia. On admission the patient was lucid and exhibited malaise, pallor and generalized lymphadenopathy (size less than 0.5 cm) hepatosplenomegaly and abdominal displaceable dullness. Abdominal computed tomography showed hepatosplenomegaly and retroperitoneal, mesenteric and other adenopathies. Node biopsy revealed Reed-Sternberg cells, mononuclear cells, eosinophiles and scarce lymphocytes. Immunohistochemical node staining was positive for CD15 and CD30 antibodies. Bone biopsy showed diffuse fibrosis, mononuclear cells and scarcity of lymphocytes. In situ hybridization for EBV Epstein Barr virus was positive in neoplastic cells.

Se presenta el caso clínico de un paciente varón de 38 años de edad, agricultor, natural de Lamas, San Martín (selva peruana), quien desde hacía 8 meses presentaba diarreas, fiebre intermitente, dolor abdominal, pérdida ponderal y anemia severa. Aunque lúcido, a su ingreso el paciente exhibía mal estado general, palidez y adenopatías generalizadas de menos de 0,5 cm, hepatoesplenomegalia y matidez desplazable. La tomografía computarizada abdominal reveló hepatoesplenomegalia y múltiples adenopatías retroperitoneales, mesentéricas y otras. La biopsia de ganglio mostró células de Reed Sternberg, células mononucleares, eosinófilos y escasos linfocitos. La inmunohistoquímica ganglionar fue positiva para anticuerpos CD15 y CD30. La biopsia de hueso señaló fibrosis difusa, células mononucleares y marcada escasez de linfocitos. La hibridización in situ para EBV-virus de Epstein Barr fue positiva en las células neoplásicas.

Nós reportamos o caso de um paciente peruano immunocompetente proveniente dos Andes com história de um mês com meningoencefalite. Foi identificado o Cryptococcus gattii na cultura de liquido cerebrospinal através da assimilação de D-prolina e D-tryptofano como fonte única de nitrogênio. Inicialmente, o paciente recebeu tratamento antifúngico intravenoso com amfotericina B. O paciente foi liberado 29 dias depois da hospitalização, seguindo tratamento oral durante 10 semanas com fluconazol. Durante este período, o paciente apresentou melhoria clinica e uma leve fraqueza residual direita. Com o reporte do caso, nós confirmamos a existência desse microorganismo como agente infeccioso em nosso país.

We report a case of an immunocompetent Peruvian patient from the Andes with a one-month history of meningoencephalitis. Cryptococcus gattii was identified from a cerebrospinal fluid culture through assimilation of D-proline and D-tryptophan as the single nitrogen source. Initially, the patient received intravenous antifungal therapy with amphotericin B. The patient was discharged 29 days after hospitalization and continued with oral fluconazole treatment for ten weeks. During this period, the patient showed clinical improvement with slight right-side residual weakness. Through this case report, we confirm the existence of this microorganism as an infectious agent in Peru.

We present the case of a 31 year-old patient with the diagnosis of lung tuberculosis by lung X-ray and positive acid alcohol resistant bacillus in sputum, who after 10 days of oral treatment with isoniazid, ethambutol, pyrazinamide and rifampicin (RFP), developed severe hemorrhagic manifestations associated with severe thrombocytopenia (2 000/mL) and slight right body hemiparesis. There was complete normalization of platelet count and motor function five days after suspension of the four drugs. We decided to re-expose the patient sequentially to the four drugs and after 12 hours of receiving RFP again developed severe thrombocytopenia (2 000/mL) not occurring with the other three drugs, and normalized completely after 36 hours of drug suspension. Later on, the addition of parenteral streptomycin successfully completed the treatment. The current case demonstrates a not very frequent adverse effect of a first line drug for the treatment of tuberculosis, which should be considered as a very serious complication and whose management should include the immediate and indefinite suspension of the drug in the affected patient, because of the high likelihood of having the same response every time he is challenged during his life.

Presentamos el caso de un varón de 31 años con diagnóstico de tuberculosis pulmonar por radiografía de torax compatible y examen bacilo ácido alcohol resistente, positivo en esputo, quien 10 días después de iniciar tratamiento oral con isoniazida, etambutol, pirazinamida y rifampicina (RFP), desarrolla un síndrome hemorrágico asociado a trombocitopenia severa (2 000/mL) y paresia leve de hemicuerpo derecho. El paciente normalizó el número de plaquetas y su función motora cinco días después del retiro de los cuatro medicamentos antituberculosos. Al decidirse re-exponer al paciente en forma secuencial a las cuatro drogas, se observó que 12 horas después de haber ingerido RFP oral, desarrolla nuevamente trombocitopenia severa, lo que no ocurrió con las otras tres drogas. Las plaquetas alcanzaron niveles normales 36 horas después del retiro de la RFP. El reemplazo ulterior de RFP por estreptomicina permitió completar exitosamente el tratamiento antituberculoso. El presente caso demuestra un efecto adverso poco frecuente, producido por un fármaco antituberculoso de primera línea, el mismo que debe considerarse como muy grave y cuyo manejo debe incluir la inmediata e indefinida suspensión de la droga en el paciente afectado, a causa de la alta probabilidad de tener la misma respuesta a lo largo de su vida.