Case Series of End-Stage Liver Disease Patients with Severe Coccidioidomycosis

Liver disease causes relative compromise of the host immune system through multiple overlapping mechanisms and is an established risk factor for invasive fungal diseases including candidiasis and cryptococcosis. This immunologic derangement also leads to rapid progression of disease with resultant increases in morbidity and mortality. We describe severe coccidioidomycosis cases in the setting of liver dysfunction. Collaborative multi-center epidemiologic studies should be performed to determine the incidence of severe coccidioidomycosis in patients with concurrent liver disease.

Automated summary

Liver disease compromises the host immune system, making patients more susceptible to invasive fungal diseases. Severe coccidioidomycosis cases were observed in patients with liver dysfunction, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Collaborative multi-center epidemiologic studies are needed to determine the incidence of severe coccidioidomycosis in patients with concurrent liver disease.