Severe visceral leishmaniasis and COVID-19 coinfection in an immunosuppressed patient

ABSTRACT Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an opportunistic disease in immunosuppressed individuals, who may present severe clinical conditions, such as the ones described in this patient. She lived in an endemic region for VL, and was possibly infected with L. (L.) infantum chagasi through the bite of a contaminated sand fly. This initial infection has triggered a pemphigus vulgaris condition by immunogenic proteins present in the mosquito's saliva. The immunosuppression caused by the use of high doses of corticosteroids to control the disease promoted a severe VL condition, with hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopenia and hemorrhages, requiring hospitalization and the onset of a subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Due to the intensity of clinical manifestations related to VL, aggravated by COVID-19, she died two days after admission to the Clinical Hospital of Marilia Medical School (HC–Famema).

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Martins,Luciamáre Perinetti Alves, Fukasawa,Josianne Thomazini, Messias,Mirella Beni Balbino Ferreira, Castanho,Roberto Esteves Pires, Andrade,Leticia Abrantes, Sperança,Márcia Aparecida, Suzuki,Rodrigo Buzinaro
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo 2022
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0036-46652022000100506
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