Cryptococcal infection in AIDS.

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans is an important opportunist pathogen in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) 3rd after primary HIV neuropathy an Toxoplasma gondii among infectious neurological diseases in AIDS patients. Extrapulmonary infection due to C. neoformans has occurred in up to 13% of patients. 86% of the Cryptococcus spp isolates in the US, Canada, and Japan are serotype A. Thousands of infection due to var neoformans have been reported in AIDS patients but only 3 cases of var gattii. Cryptococcal pneumonia meningitis appears in 63-84% of AIDS patients with symptoms of fever, headache, meningism, and photophobia. 17-37% of AIDS patients with Cm die during therapy, and only 18-30% live over 12 months. Treatment in patients without immunodeficiency deficit is with a combination of .3 mg/kg/day of amphotericin B and 150 mg/kg/day of flucytosine for 4 weeks. A dose of .5-.8 mg/kg/day amphotericin was most effective although renal toxicity occurred in 80% of patients. Fluconazole has been used since 1987: cerebrospinal fluid concentrations reached 60-80% in serum. Treatment in 8 of 14 patients receiving 400 mg/day fluconazole failed while it did not in 6 patients treated with .7 mg/kg/day of amphotericin for 7 days and flucytosine 100 mg/kg/day. 200 mg/bid itraconazole was given to 32 patients with cryptococcosis (24 CM cases and 26 AIDS victims) and 65% of CM patients improved clinically with negative cultures. The relapse of 2 of 106 patients taking 200 mg/day fluconazole and 13 of 77 patients taking 1 mg/kg/week amphotericin B occurred in maintenance therapy. CM was suppressed in 10 of 15 patients with 400 mg/kg itrazonazole. Prophylactic use of azole drugs in AIDS does not protect completely from CM although it reduced systemic fungal infections such as cryptococcosis.