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. 2020 Feb 16;35(1):e91. doi: 10.5001/omj.2020.09

Table 1. Cases of histoplasmosis in/or from Bangladesh (N = 26).

Patient number/
Journal, Year/
Reference
Age/
Sex/
Occupation
Immune status Clinical presentation Physical signs Important laboratory and
imaging findings
Diagnostic test and
form of histoplasmosis
Treatment and
outcome
1/
BMRC Bull, 198216
69 years/
Male/
Not known
Not known Nodular lesion in oral mucosa Submandibular lymphadenopathy
Hepatosplenomegaly
- Histopathology from oral nodule.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Amphotericin B.
Anti-TB prescription.
Cured with relapse at 16th month.
2/
JBCPS, 200535
41 years/
Male/
Businessman
Positive anti-HIV Fever
Weight loss
Anorexia
Sore throat
Loose motion
Anemia
Oral moniliasis
Dehydration
Cervical lymphadenopathy
Hepatosplenomegaly
Hb = 7.7 gm/dL
WBC = 3800/cmm
Platelets = 150 000/cmm
Bone marrow study.
Disseminated
histoplasmosis.
Itraconazole.
Expired in hospital due to septic shock.
3/
Transpl Infect Dis, 201017
60 years/
Male/
Builder
T2DM
Renal transplant recipient
Fever
Sore throat
Skin nodules Hb = 11.1 gm/dL
WBC = 3100/cmm
LDH = 256 IU/L
Abnormal chest imaging (nodules)
Biopsy and culture from skin nodule, broncho-alveolar lavage, and transbronchial biopsy.
Epiglottic biopsy.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Lipid amphotericin B.
Itraconazole for an indefinite period.
History of INH prophylaxis.
Cured, no recurrence up to 2 years.
4/
BSMMUJ,
201018
45 years/
Male/
Fishing farm worker
HIV-negative Fever
Weight loss
Abdominal pain
Anemia
Generalized lymphadenopathy
Growth in the oral cavity
Ascites
Hb = 9.1 gm/dL
ESR = 40 mm in first hour
Biopsy and histopathology from tongue growth and lymph node.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Amphotericin B.
Itraconazole (planned for one year).
Improved up to six weeks.
5/
JHPN, 201019
32 years/
Male/
Storekeeper
Diagnosed AIDS Fever
Weight loss
Anorexia
Cervical lymphadenopathy
Splenomegaly
Maculopapular rash
Hb = 9.6 gm/dL
Esophageal candidiasis
CD4 = 19/uL
Histopathology from lymph node.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Amphotericin B (0.7 mg/kg/d for 21 days).
Itraconazole (200 mg 12-h).
Anti-TB
Not known
6/
J Med, 201020
56 years/
Male/
Not known
HIV-negative Fever
Cough
Shortness of breath Disorientation
Anemia Hb = 9 gm/dL
ESR = 60 mm in first hour
Serum creatinine = 2.3 mg/dL
Abnormal chest X-ray (infiltrates)
Bone marrow study.
Disseminated
histoplasmosis.
Amphotericin B.
Anti-TB (presumptive).
Expired due to aspiration pneumonia.
7/
J Med, 201021
57 years/
Male/
Farmer
Not known Fever
Back pain
Anemia
Generalized lymphadenopathy
Hepatomegaly
Spastic paraparesis
Hb = 8.9 mg/dL
ESR = 90 mm in first hour
Open biopsy from paravertebral tissue.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Not known
Not known
8/
Unpublished, 2010*
8 years/
Male/
Unknown
Not known Fever
Anorexia
Weight loss
Diarrhea
Anemia
Generalized lymphadenopathy
Hepatosplenomegaly
Hb = 8.3 gm/dL
WBC = 5300/cmm
Platelets = 132 000/cmm
ESR = 89 mm in first hour
Lymph node culture.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Anti-TB
Expired
9/
J Med, 201122
65 years/
Male/
School teacher
HIV-negative Fever
Anorexia
Weight loss Abdominal pain
Cough
Hemoptysis
Vomiting
Oral ulcer
Hepatomegaly
Lung crepitation
ALT = 81.9 IU/L
AST = 83.2 IU/L
Abnormal chest X-ray (reticulonodular shadow).
Bilateral adrenal masses.
FNAC from adrenal gland.
Partial adrenal insufficiency.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Anti-TB for eight months.
Not known
10/
JBCPS, 201123
75 years/
Male/
Farmer
HIV-negative Fever
Anorexia
Weight loss
Anemia
Postural hypotension
ERS = 41 mm in first hour.
Bilateral adrenal masses.
FNAC and culture from adrenal gland.
Partial adrenal insufficiency.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Amphotericin B (five doses)
Itraconazole (one year).
Cured, no recurrence up to 27 weeks of follow-up.
11/
J Med, 201224
60 years/
Male/
Not known
HIV-negative Hoarseness of voice Ulcerative growth in vocal cord Abnormal chest X-ray (diffuse patchy opacity). Histopathology from vocal cord specimen.
Primary vocal cord histoplasmosis.
Amphotericin B (0.5 mg/kg EAD for 14 doses).
Itraconazole (200 mg 12-h for 12 weeks).
Anti-TB (two times)
Improved and advised for follow-up.
12/
JAFMC, 201225
30 years/
Male/
Brick field worker
HIV positive Fever
Cough
Bleeding from multiple sites
Respiratory distress
Loose stool
Dis-orientation
Anemia
Mucosal ulcers rash/plaques
Abnormal chest auscultation
Pancytopenia
ALT = 103 IU/L
Alkaline phosphatase = 527 IU/L
LDH = 1003 U/L
Abnormal chest imaging (consolidation).
PBF and bone marrow study.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Anti-TB for nine months (presumptive).
Expired in hospital due to aspiration pneumonia.
13/
JBCPS, 201226
42 years/
Male/
Painter
HIV-negative Oral ulcer
Dysphagia
Poor general health
Diarrhea
Anemia
Bilateral submandibular lymphadenopathy
- Histopathology from oral ulcer.
Localized to the oral cavity.
Itraconazole (200 mg 12-h for three weeks then maintenance dose).
Cured, no recurance up to 2 months of follow-up.
14/
JBCPS, 201226
65 years/
Male/
Farmer
HIV-negative Oral ulcer
Poor general health
Anemia
Bilateral submandibular lymphadenopathy
- Histopathology from oral ulcer.
Localized to oral cavity.
Itraconazole (200 mg BID for 4 weeks then maintenance dose).
Cured, no recurance up to 2 months of follow-up.
15/
J Gen Pract, 201327
32 years/
Male/
Farmer
HIV-negative Fever
Weight loss
Anorexia
Hepatosplenomegaly ESR = 40 mm in first hour
Bilateral adrenal masses
FNAC from adrenal gland.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Anti-TB
Not known
16/
Bang J Med. 201328
45 years/
Male/
Not known
T2DM
HIV positive
Fever
Cough
Weight loss
Orogenital ulcers
Anemia
Rash
Crepitation in lung
Hepatomegaly
Hb = 8.2 gm/dL
WBC = 3600/cmm
Platelets = 103 000/cmm
ESR = 115 mm in first hour
ALT = 146 IU/L
AST = 537 IU/L
Alkaline phosphatase= 407 IU/L
LDH = 826U/L
CD4 = 4/uL
Bone marrow study.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Amphotericin B
Expired
17/
J Med, 201329
62 years/
Male/
Farmer
HIV-negative Fever
Back pain
Paraplegia
Bowel-bladder in-continence
Anemia
Generalized lymphadenopathy
Hepatosplenomegaly
Spastic paraplegia
- Lymph node biopsy
CT-guided FNAC from paraspinal soft tissue.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Amphotericin B
Itraconazole
Neurosurgical exploration.
Improved (up to one month of follow-up).
18/
Mymensingh Med J, 201430
60 years/
Male/
Farmer
T2DM
HIV-negative
Fever
Cough
Weight loss
Sore throat
Voice change
- FBG = 12 mmol/L
Patchy opacity in chest X-ray
Histopathology from vocal cord punch biopsy specimen (ulcer).
Vocal cord histoplasmosis.
Amphotericin B (0.5 mg/kg/d for six weeks).
Itraconazole (200 mg for 12 weeks).
Anti-TB
Improved up to three months of follow-up.
19/
Unpublished, 2014*
60 years/
Male/
Farmer
Not known Weight loss
Anorexia
Weakness
Increased pigmentation Hb = 10.9 gm/dl
WBC = 10 800/cmm
Platelets = 189 000/cmm
ESR = 47 mm in first hour
ALT = 41 IU/L
ACTH stimulation test: partial adrenal insufficiency
Bilateral adrenal enlargement
CT-guided FNAC from adrenal gland.
Gum biopsy
Anti-histoplasma antibody.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Itraconazole
Hydrocortisone
Improved up to five months of follow-up.
20/
Unpublished, 2014*
42 years/
Male/
Farmer
Not known Weight loss
Anorexia
Weakness
Increased pigmentation Hb = 10.6 gm/dL
WBC = 9700/cmm
Platelets = 230 000/cmm
ESR = 53 mm in first hour
ALT = 65 IU/L
ACTH stimulation test: partial adrenal insufficiency
Bilateral adrenal enlargement
CT-guided FNAC from the adrenal gland.
Anti-histoplasma antibody.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Itraconazole
Hydrocortisone
Improved up to three months of follow-up.
21/
Unpublished, 2014*
59 years/
Male/
School teacher
T2DM
HIV-negative
Fever
Weight loss
Anorexia
Anemia
Jaundice
Hepatoplenomegaly
Hb = 9.1 gm/dL
WBC = 3900/cmm
Platelets = 89 000/cmm
ESR = 85 mm in first hour
Bilateral adrenal enlargement
FNAC from the adrenal gland.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Discharged against medical advice.
Not known
22/
BSM Bull, 2015
40 years/
Male/
Not known
HIV-negative Fever
Weight loss
Cough
Anorexia
Weakness
Anemia
Pigmentation
Hepatomegaly
Hb = 8.9 gm/dl
Bilateral adrenal mass
USG guided FNAC from adrenal gland.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Lipid formulation of amphotericin B (0.5 mg/kg/d for two weeks).
Itraconazole (200 mg 12-h for 12 months).
Anti-TB
Not known
23/
Unpublished, 2015*
72 years/
Male/
Retired government employee
T2DM
HIV-negative
Fever
Weight loss
Anorexia
Anemia Hb = 9.6 gm/dl
WBC = 6700/cmm
Platelets = 165 000/cmm
ESR= 67 mm in first hour
HbA1c = 8.3%
Bilateral adrenal enlargement
FNAC from the adrenal gland.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Amphotericin B
Itraconazole
Improving
24/
Unpublished, 2015*
62 years/
Male/
Retired government employee
T2DM Fever
Anorexia
Weight loss
Cough
Convulsion
Anemia Hb = 8.7 gm/dl
WBC = 4100/cmm
Platelets = 153 000/cmm
ESR = 45 mm in first hour
HbA1c = 7.9%
Bilateral adrenal enlargement
FNAC from the adrenal gland
MRI of brain.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Amphotericin B Itraconazole.
Recurrence with CNS histoplasmosis (later expired).
25/
Unpublished, 2016*
42 years/
Male/
Service holder
HIV-negative Fever
Anorexia
Weight loss
Hepatosplenomegaly Hb = 12 gm/dl
WBC = 5600/cmm
Platelets = 222 000/cmm
ESR = 78 mm in first hour
Bilateral adrenal enlargement
FNAC from the adrenal gland.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Itraconazole
Anti-TB
Not known
26/
BIRDEM Med J, 201831
42 years/
Male/
Not known
T2DM
HIV-negative
Fever
Anorexia
Weight loss
Pigmentation
- Hb = 12.4 gm/dL
WBC = 8300/cmm
Platelets = 426 000/cmm
ESR = 40 mm in first hour
ALT = 91 IU/L
AST = 82 IU/L
HbA1c = 6.6%
Bilateral adrenal enlargement
FNAC from the adrenal gland.
ACTH stimulation test: no adrenal insufficiency.
Disseminated histoplasmosis.
Amphotericin B (14 days).
Itraconazole (planned for 18 months).
Improved up to last (six month) visit.

Anti-TB: anti-tuberculosis; HIV: human immune deficiency virus; Hb: hemoglobin; WBC: white blood cells; T2DM: type 2 diabetes mellitus; LDH: lactate dehydrogenase; INH: isoniazid; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; AIDS: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; CD: cluster of differentiation; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; FNAC: fine-needle aspiration cytology; EAD: every alternate day; PBF: peripheral blood film; FBG: fasting blood glucose; CT: computed tomography; ACTH: adrenocorticotropic hormone; USG: ultrasonography; HbA1c: glycated hemoglobin; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; CNS: central nervous system; BID: twice a day.

*Note: Unpublished cases were recruited from three teaching hospitals, BIRDEM General Hospital (case 8, 21, 23 and 25), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (cases 19 and 20) and Dhaka Medical College (Case 24), Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Missing data: physical signs (cases 18 and 26) and value/important laboratory and imaging findings (cases 1, 13, 14 and 17).