Disseminated Bilateral Chorioretinitis due to Histoplasma capsulatum in a Patient with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Abstract A 31-year-old white male homosexual was healthy until March 1984, when he developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia , which resolved with treatment. In April 1984 he developed fever, followed by hepatosplenomegaly, headaches, blurred vision, pancytopenia and pulmonary infiltrates. On June 11, intracytoplasmic yeast were noted within leukocytes on a peripheral blood smear, and amphotericin B was started. The patient developed progressive respiratory and renal insufficiency and died on June 13, 1984. Autopsy histopathology demonstrated disseminated histoplasmosis and Histoplasma capsulatum was cultured from numerous tissues. Ocular histopathologic examination using special fungal stains and electron microscopy revealed numerous budding yeasts characteristic of Histoplasma capsulatum in the choroid, retina and central retinal vein. Their identification as H. capsulatum was confirmed by immunofluorescent staining.