Diabetic ketoacidosis is a dangerous complication of diabetes where the body produces too much acid. When this condition leads to a rare lung infection called pulmonary mucormycosis, the outlook is often grim. A recent look at 16 patients shows that one in four people with this specific combination died. This group included one detailed case report and 15 cases gathered from medical literature. The infection was caused by a fungus known as Rhizopus. Doctors treated these patients with amphotericin B-based therapy and performed surgery to remove localized lesions when possible. They also worked to correct the underlying metabolic issues. The review did not report any specific safety signals or side effects for the drugs used in these cases. However, the data comes from a small number of patients and a mix of treatment settings. This means the results reflect real-world complexity rather than a single controlled experiment. The main lesson is clear: doctors must keep a high index of clinical suspicion in high-risk hosts. Early pathological or molecular diagnosis is vital. Prompt antifungal therapy alongside metabolic correction saves lives. Timely surgical evaluation for localized lesions remains a critical part of care. Maintaining these practices could improve outcomes for patients facing this deadly threat.
Review of 16 cases shows 25% mortality for pulmonary mucormycosis in DKA patients treated with amphotericin BTreatment for rare lung infection kills one in four patients with diabetic ketoacidosis
AI-generated summary of the cited source, checked by automated accuracy review. How we work
Key Takeaway
Consider early diagnosis and amphotericin B therapy for pulmonary mucormycosis in DKA patients.
This publication is a case report and literature review focusing on patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) complicated by invasive pulmonary mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus. The scope includes 16 patients, comprising one case report and 15 cases drawn from the literature. The setting of care was not reported for this aggregated group. The primary outcome assessed was overall mortality.
The authors report an overall mortality rate of 25%, which corresponds to 4 deaths among the 16 patients included in the analysis. No p-values or confidence intervals were reported for this finding. Safety data, including adverse events, serious adverse events, discontinuations, and tolerability, were not reported in the source material.
The intervention involved amphotericin B-based therapy and surgical resection for localized lesions. The authors note that the comparator was not reported. Key practice arguments include maintaining a high index of clinical suspicion in high-risk hosts, ensuring early pathological or molecular diagnosis, initiating prompt antifungal therapy alongside metabolic correction, and seeking timely surgical evaluation for localized lesions. Funding or conflicts of interest were not reported.
What this means for you:
Early diagnosis and surgery are vital for treating this rare lung infection in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. More on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Clinical-immuno-inflammatory signature for Aspergillus–Mucorales co-infection in ICU patients
ICU patients with co-infection show higher but not significant mortality
This single-center observational cohort study of 93 critically ill ICU patients found that a clinical-immuno-inflammatory signature for earl…
Critically ill patients with both Aspergillus and Mucorales infections had higher ICU mortality, but the difference was not statistically si…
Inspiratory muscle training improves inspiratory muscle strength and exercise tolerance in stable COPD patients
Inspiratory Muscle Training Improves Strength for People with COPD
This meta-analysis of 1,170 adults with stable COPD found that inspiratory muscle training (IMT) significantly improved inspiratory muscle s…
Inspiratory muscle training can strengthen breathing muscles and improve exercise tolerance for adults living with stable chronic obstructiv…
Purified phytochemicals and multicomponent botanical formulas may modulate the pulmonary fibrosis immune microenvironment in IPF
Plant compounds may offer new ways to treat lung scarring
This narrative review explores how purified phytochemicals and multicomponent botanical formulas may modulate the immune microenvironment an…
Natural plant extracts could change how the body handles inflammation and tissue scarring in people with a serious lung disease.
Bidirectional associations exist between obstructive lung diseases and inflammatory bowel disease across 30 observational studies
Lung Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Show Linked Risks
This meta-analysis of 30 observational studies identifies bidirectional associations between obstructive lung diseases (COPD, asthma, bronch…
Research shows a link between inflammatory bowel disease and several lung conditions, including asthma and COPD, suggesting these issues oft…
View Original Abstract ↓
ObjectiveTo investigate the rapid progression and key treatment strategies for invasive pulmonary mucormycosis caused by Rhizopus in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).MethodsWe report a fatal case of severe Rhizopus pneumonia in a patient with DKA and conducted a systematic review of relevant cases from PubMed and Web of Science for descriptive analysis.ResultsA 39-year-old male with DKA developed severe lung lesions within days post-admission. Despite confirmation via pathological diagnosis and the initiation of liposomal amphotericin B therapy, the patient succumbed rapidly. Incorporating 15 cases identified from the literature, the total cohort comprised 16 patients, yielding an overall mortality rate of 25% (4/16). Cases involving DKA frequently exhibited narrow diagnostic windows and rapid progression to respiratory failure. Most cases (11/15) received amphotericin B-based therapy, and some with localized lesions (7/15) underwent surgical resection.ConclusionPulmonary mucormycosis with DKA can progress rapidly and carries high risk. Treatment typically involves amphotericin B preparations, supplemented by surgery for focal disease. Key strategies include maintaining a high index of clinical suspicion in high-risk hosts, early pathological/molecular diagnosis, prompt antifungal therapy alongside metabolic correction, and timely surgical evaluation for localized lesions.
Evaluating the Efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine Decoctions for Rheumatoid Arthritis Management
Traditional Chinese medicine decoctions may improve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms
Related in Rheumatology
Aerobic and resistance exercise improve fatigue, physical function, and pain in systemic lupus erythematosus
Exercise Eases Fatigue and Pain in Lupus Patients
This meta-analysis of 470 adults with SLE found that aerobic, resistance, or combined exercise leads to small-to-moderate improvements in fa…
A review of 470 lupus patients finds exercise improves fatigue, pain, and mood without worsening disease activity.
Intervention Mapping framework supports development of tailored behavioral interventions for stroke survivor rehabilitation
New framework helps tailor behavior goals for stroke survivors
This systematic review of 9 studies evaluates the Intervention Mapping (IM) framework for designing behaviorally grounded programs for strok…
A structured mapping framework helps create personalized behavioral programs to improve confidence and knowledge for people recovering from …
Dipyridamole combined with immunoglobulin and aspirin improves clinical efficacy in children with Kawasaki disease
Dipyridamole Combined with Aspirin Improves Outcomes for Kawasaki Disease
This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials involving 1,594 children found that adding dipyridamole to immunoglobulin and aspirin sig…
Adding dipyridamole to standard immunoglobulin and aspirin treatment may improve clinical outcomes and speed up recovery for children with K…
Dupilumab as an off-label adjunctive approach facilitates corticosteroid minimization in severe pemphigus vulgaris
New approach helps manage severe skin disease with fewer steroids
This case report describes the use of dupilumab as an off-label adjunctive corticosteroid-minimizing approach for a patient with severe muco…
A new way to treat a severe blistering skin disease may help patients who cannot safely take high doses of steroids.
From Other Specialties
Male sex, age, multifocality, and BRAFV600E mutation increase risk of metastasis in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
Risk Factors Linked to Aggressive Thyroid Microcarcinoma Behavior
This meta-analysis of 274 articles identifies clinical and molecular risk factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) and extrathyroidal extensi…
Specific factors like age, sex, and genetic mutations are linked to more aggressive behavior in certain types of thyroid microcarcinomas.
Lymphatic dysfunction may drive inflammation and insulin resistance in older adults with sarcopenic obesity
Lymphatic Dysfunction Linked to Insulin Resistance in Sarcopenic Obesity
This hypothesis-generating review explores how aging and obesity jointly impair lymphatic function, potentially leading to local inflammatio…
New research suggests that poor lymphatic drainage may drive inflammation and insulin resistance in older adults with both obesity and muscl…
Bariatric surgery is associated with a significantly lower incidence of gallbladder cancer in people living with obesity
Weight Loss Surgery Tied to Lower Gallbladder Cancer Risk
This meta-analysis of 3,929,395 individuals living with obesity found that bariatric surgery is associated with a significantly lower incide…
A large analysis suggests bariatric surgery may reduce gallbladder cancer risk in people with obesity, but more research is needed.
Chronic stress exposure may flatten circadian patterns and suppress reproductive axes in functional hypercortisolism
Chronic Stress May Alter Hormones and Body Rhythms
This narrative review examines the impact of extreme physical and psychological stress on adrenal steroid metabolism and HPA-axis function. …
Ongoing physical and mental stress can disrupt your body's natural hormone cycles, affecting metabolism and reproductive health over time.