Postpartum pulmonary cryptococcosis combined with pulmonary embolism: a case report.

Pulmonary cryptococcosis is an opportunistic infection of the lungs caused by cryptococcus, usually occurring in immunosuppressed patients. Pulmonary embolism is a type of venous thromboembolism. Pregnancy and postpartum are risk factors for pulmonary embolism. To date, no cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis co-occurring with pulmonary embolism in the postpartum period have been documented. This case report describes a 39-year-old female who was diagnosed with HIV-negative pulmonary cryptococcosis with pulmonary embolism 42 days postpartum and experienced improvement in her condition after active antifungal and anticoagulant therapy. Given the physiologic immunosuppression and hypercoagulable state associated with pregnancy, the possibility of pulmonary cryptococcosis combined with pulmonary embolism should be considered in postpartum women with chest pain and newly discovered lung shadow.