Hepatic mucormycosis in a renal transplant recipient: A rare presentation

Fungal infections account for 5% of all infections in renal transplant recipients. Mucormycosis has emerged as an important invasive fungal infection in transplant recipients associated with aggressive clinical course and substantial rates of death. A 28-year-old male with chronic kidney disease underwent renal transplantation from a deceased brain-dead donor. Implantation kidney biopsy showed features of acute tubular necrosis. On follow-up, the patient had progressive renal failure. The patient expired 3 months after transplantation due to sepsis with refractory shock. Postmortem needle biopsy done on the liver showed areas of necrosis with broad, aseptate filamentous fungal hyphae stained positive with Gomori methenamine silver stain favoring mucormycosis. Mucormycosis is a fatal mycosis in transplant recipient due to its angiophilic and thrombosis/hemorrhage-oriented characteristics. The overall mortality rate among solid-organ transplant recipients with mucormycosis is 38%-48%. Early detection and appropriate timely management of fungal infections play a decisive role in improving the survival and reducing the mortality.