Unilateral ureteral obstruction caused by Aspergillus, subgenus Nidulantes in a patient on steroid therapy: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Urinary tract obstructions caused by Aspergillus bezoars has been reported on rare occasions. We describe in this paper an unusual case caused by an isolate of the Aspergillus nidulantes subgenus, and review the literature on 13 additional cases of ureteral obstruction due to renoureteric aspergillosis so as to provide the characteristics of this disease entity. Our case presented with a unilateral ureteral obstruction and acute renal failure due to Aspergillus bezoars. The patient was immunocompromised having received corticosteroid therapy for chronic obstructive lung disease and bronchiectasis. She was treated successfully with antifungal chemotherapy, including amphotericin B followed by oral voriconazole for about two months and had a percutaneous nephrostomy for one month. The patient's renal function completely recovered after hemodialysis maintenance for six months.