Rhino-orbital-mucormycosis is an aggressive, angioinvasive fungal infection seen in immunocompromised hosts. The risk factors are poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, neutropenia, hematological malignancies, long-term deferroxamine therapy, intravenous drug abuse and cytotoxic therapy.[¹] Patients with diabetes constitute the single largest category of patients with mucormycosis (60-81%).[²] Rhino-orbital- mucormycosis (ROM) is seen as a presenting feature of diabetes in one fourth of patients.[³] However , there is only a single case report of rhino-orbital-mucormycosis in pregestational diabetes.[⁴] We present a patient who presented with ROM and was diagnosed to have gestational diabetes mellitus.

A 24-year-old female who was six months pregnant complained of pain and swelling in the right eye of five days duration. She developed right nasal obstruction and right facial weakness three days later. She had no associated visual loss or diplopia. Subsequently, she was admitted with osmotic symptoms, recurrent vomiting and altered sensorium. She neither had any history of fetal wastage nor any past history of glucose intolerance. She had no family history of diabetes. Clinical examination revealed that patient was drowsy, pulse 110/min regular and BP 120/75 mmHg. The right eye was proptosed with periorbital swelling and she had right seventh nerve palsy. There was bloody nasal discharge with septal perforation of nose. Throat examination was normal. Investigations revealed random venous plasma glucose of 484 mg/dl with normal arterial blood gases and electrolytes. Hemogram showed hemoglobin of 7.6 g/l, total leucocyte count 16000/cmm; differential leucocyte count of N80 L12M5. HbA_1C was 8 %. CT of the brain with orbital sections [Figure 1] revealed an abnormal heterogeneous soft tissue swelling with post-contrast enhancement involving the right ethmoid gallery with extra- and intraconal orbital extension and associated right cavernous sinus thrombosis. Fungal smear showed aseptate right angled hyphae on 10 % KOH mount. Growth on Sabouraud's dextrose agar was identified as Rhizopus oryzae. Histopathology was suggestive of mucormycosis. The patient was started on intravenous insulin infusion, amphotericin B (liposomal) at 0.3 mg/kg/day and gradually increased to 1 mg/kg/day with monitoring of serum electrolytes and renal functions (total cumulative dose 2.5 g). Surgical debridement in the form of right pansinusectomy and rhinotomy was done. Although patient had a fetal wastage, she recovered fully and is presently well controlled on two doses of premixed insulin.

Rhino-orbital- mucormycosis (ROM) is a rare disease with overall prevalence of diabetes in 0.15%. However, rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis as a presenting manifestation of diabetes is rare. In a previous series of 35 patients of diabetes, we noted ROM as a presenting feature in one fourth of patients.[³] Trivedi et al.,[⁴] reported a woman with pregestational diabetes mellitus who presented as ROM during gestation. The patient had a classical syndrome of diabetic ketoacidosis, visual loss, ophthalmoplegia and sinusitis. Our case was not a known case of diabetes. She presented with ROM at six months of gestation and was incidentally found to have diabetes. She presented with periorbital swelling, proptosis, facial weakness, septal perforation and pansinusitis. The organisms causing mucormycosis are Rhizopus, Mucor, Absidia, appearing in decaying vegetation and dung. Infection occurs when airborne hyphae are inhaled and deposited in upper or lower respiratory tract. The fungi penetrate arterial walls producing ischemia, thrombosis and infarction. Patients usually present with low-grade fever, dull sinus pain, nasal congestion, bloody nasal discharge and diplopia. Spread occurs via vessels to paranasal sinuses and to central nervous system via orbit and cribiform plate. Cavernous sinus thrombosis may occur due to orbital invasion. The diagnosis of mucormycosis was based on direct microscopy from nasal aspirate and on histopathology examination. Our patient was successfully treated with intravenous liposomal amphotericin B, surgical debridement and supportive care. The use of amphotericin B is associated with toxicity in form of renal failure, hypokalemia, hepatic impairment, fever and chills. Liposomal delivery allows the drug to be both less toxic and more effective.[⁵]

The prognosis of mucormycosis has markedly improved over past 30 years with 90% survival rate. In our previous series,[³] we noted a 68% survival rate. The factors related to poor survival were delay in diagnosis and treatment, facial and eyelid gangrene, hemiplegia, cerebral invasion by mucorales and treatment with amphotericin B alone. Our patient had a fetal wastage at six months which could be related to hyperglycemia and her concomitant illness. In fact, studies have shown that well regulated glycemia and intensive pregnancy follow-up of diabetic women reduces stillbirths, neonatal complications and neonatal macrosomia incidence.[^{6, 7}]

This case is unusual as it is the first report of a patient with gestational diabetes mellitus presenting as rhino-orbital mucormycosis. The present case also highlights the importance of early establishment of diagnosis, prompt initiation of amphotericin B therapy with surgical debridement and supportive care in successful management of rhino-orbital mucormycosis.

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Conflict of Interest: None declared.