An unusual case of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding due to fungal infection

Abstract

A 63-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with herpes zoster viral infection and intermittent disorder of consciousness. On day 13 of hospitalization for glucocorticoid treatment, the patient experienced seven episodes of hematochezia. She had a 2-year history of systemic lupus erythematosus and had undergone splenectomy at 40 years of age. Computed tomography and electronic endoscopy revealed bleeding and contrast agent leakage into the splenic flexure of the colon. The patient underwent an emergency exploratory laparotomy and left hemicolectomy for suspected active hemorrhaging into the digestive tract. Pathological examination revealed that the bleeding had been caused by a fungal infection. No further hemorrhaging occurred after the surgery, suggesting that intestinal fungal infection might be a potential differential diagnosis for gastrointestinal bleeding in compromised hosts.