CUTANEOUS LOCALIZATIONS OF SYSTEMIC CRYPT OCOCCOSIS IN A RENAL-TRANSPLANT PATIENT

Cryptococcosis is a systemic disease caused by the yeast-like fungus C ryptococcus neoformans. Cutaneous manifestations, although rare, may p recede other organ involvements. A case of cutaneous cryptococcosis is described herein. The skin lesions in our patient (a 47-year old fema le with renal transplant) consisted of acute cellulitis over her left and right thighs, revealing a septicemic infection. The patient receiv ed immunosuppressive drugs (prednisone, azathioprine). Clinical, mycol ogical and histopathological data are described in details. Amphoteric in B and fluconazole were initially successful, but a relapse with Cry tococcus meningitis required the adjunction of itracoonazole to treatm ent. This case report underlines the insufficient effectiveness of flu conazole and the success of itraconazole.