[Aspergillosis of the heart and liver in leptospirosis].

A study made in three autopsies suggested development during the second to third week of leptospirosis icterohaemorrhagica against the background of secondary immunodeficiency (due to severity of the underlying condition or induced by glucocortocoid and antibiotic therapy) Aspergillus affection of the heart that had significantly aggravated the clinical course of leptospirosis and appeared to be the immediate provoking cause of acute cardiovascular insufficiency with a fatal result to follow. Two cases demonstrated an isolated fungal infection of the myocardium. In one of these running a longer (20 days in duration) course there took place a hematogenic dissemination of the aspergilli present in the liver during the development of the metastatic focus in the myocardium. The observations done suggest that each case requires individual consideration as to part the fungus infection plays in the outcome of the pathological process depending upon its type and extension in the organ.