Fatal myocardial aspergillosis in an immunosuppressed child

A girl with resistant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) had a stem cell transpla ntation. Preceding transplantation, she had recurrent pneumonitis. No causa tive agent was identified. Despite several antibiotics including high-dose liposomal amphotericin-B, pulmonary infection progressed. Aspergillosis, al ways considered, could not be documented. She died from cardiac arrest on t he second day after transplantation, with no forewarning of previous heart disease. Pericardial and myocardial aspergillosis was an autopsy finding. P ericardial and myocardial aspergillosis. rare manifestations of systemic as pergillosis, should be considered in any immunocompromised patient with lon g-lasting pulmonary infection. even in the absence of specific cardiac find ings.