Reno-invasive fungal infection presenting as acute renal failure : importance of renal biopsy for early diagnosis

Abstract EN

Renal zygomycosis, caused by invasive fungi, is a rare and potentially fatal infection.

The patient usually presents with non-specific symptoms and renal failure.

A 34-year-old male non-diabetic and without any predisposing factors for systemic fungal infection presented to the emergency department with diffuse abdominal pain, high-grade fever and acute renal failure with a serum creatinine of 6.5.

A computed tomography showed bilateral diffuse globular nephromegaly.

A urine smear for fungal examination showed right angle branching hyphae and kidney biopsy showed fungal hyphae within the glomeruli, tubules and interstitium.

Although radiological investigations can give us a clue, the definitive diagnosis can only be made by kidney biopsy.

A high index of suspicion and timely diagnosis is important for a proper management.