Angioinvasive mucormycosis and paradoxical stroke: a case report.

INTRODUCTION

typically results in acute, aggressive and angioinvasive infection, particularly in immunosuppressed individuals. Risk factors include immunosuppression in haematologic malignancy, uncontrolled hyperglycemia, iron overload states, and older chelator agents such as deferoxamine.

CASE PRESENTATION

We describe a case of a 33-year-old female with transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia who was started on intravenous deferiprone therapy and subsequently presented with a retropharyngeal abscess. Despite intravenous broad spectrum antibiotics, she continued to deteriorate and developed aphasia. A CT scan of her head showed multiple hypodensities. Blood cultures grew species and a subsequent transesophageal echocardiogram showed a mass in the right atrium with a patent foramen ovale.

CONCLUSION

Although deferiprone, a newer iron chelator agent, has antifungal properties , this case illustrates that angioinvasive infections can occur in patients treated with deferiprone.