Disseminated cryptococcosis in an HIV-negative pregnancy: a case of cryptococcal septic abortion complicating an immunocompetent pregnancy

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans, a well-known pathogen of the immunocompromised host, is rarely reported as a cause of disseminated infection in the immunocompetent pregnant woman. Reported herein is the case of a young gravid woman, who initially presented with vague systemic symptoms that evolved into a disseminated cryptococcosis, which was resistant to standard parenteral antifungal therapy and resulted in abortion. Experience from this case suggests that cryptococcal infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pregnant women presenting with vague systemic symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, and generalized lymphadenopathy.