Pulmonary cryptococcosis in a ruxolitinib-treated patient with primary myelofibrosis

We present the case of a 79-year-old man who showed multiple pulmonary nodules on chest computed tomography (CT) after being treated for 6 months with ruxolitinib, an inhibitor of Janus kinase (JAK) 1 and 2, to treat primary myelofibrosis. We examined the lesions by bronchoscopy, and the biopsy spec...

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Published inRespiratory medicine case reports Vol. 22; no. C; pp. 87 - 90
Main Authors Hirano, Anna, Yamasaki, Masahiro, Saito, Naomi, Iwato, Koji, Daido, Wakako, Funaishi, Kunihiko, Ishiyama, Sayaka, Deguchi, Naoko, Taniwaki, Masaya, Ohashi, Nobuyuki
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2017
Elsevier
Subjects
Case Report
Janus kinase inhibitor
Myelofibrosis
Pulmonary cryptococcosis
Pulmonary nodules
Ruxolitinib
Ruxolitinib
CT
Myelofibrosis
IL
JAK
Pulmonary nodules
Pulmonary cryptococcosis
TNF
Janus kinase inhibitor
JAK, Janus kinase
TNF, tumor necrosis factor
IL, interleukin
CT, computed tomography
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Summary:We present the case of a 79-year-old man who showed multiple pulmonary nodules on chest computed tomography (CT) after being treated for 6 months with ruxolitinib, an inhibitor of Janus kinase (JAK) 1 and 2, to treat primary myelofibrosis. We examined the lesions by bronchoscopy, and the biopsy specimen revealed fungus bodies of Cryptococcus with granulomatous inflammation. As a result, the patient was diagnosed with pulmonary cryptococcosis. The patient was treated with fluconazole (200 mg daily for 2 weeks) with concomitant ruxolitinib administration, but the pulmonary lesions progressed. Subsequently, the patient was treated with voriconazole (300 mg daily for 3 weeks), but the lesions worsened further. The administration of ruxolitinib was therefore discontinued, and the dosage of voriconazole was increased to 400 mg daily. Three months later, the pulmonary lesions diminished in size. The present case of pulmonary cryptococcosis occurred in a patient treated with ruxolitinib. Treatment of pulmonary cryptococcosis with concomitant JAK inhibitor administration may result in poor treatment efficacy. It might be better to stop administration of JAK inhibitors, if possible, in patients being treated for pulmonary cryptococcosis.
ISSN:2213-0071
2213-0071
DOI:10.1016/j.rmcr.2017.06.015