Factors associated with mortality in cryptococcal meningitis

Abstract

To investigate factors associated with mortality in non-AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis. We retrospectively reviewed 154 cases of non-HIV cryptococcal meningitis in a tertiary care hospital in China, from 1997 through 2007. The 1-year attributable mortality was 19.6% (28/143), and overall mortality was 28.7% (41/143). Advanced age (> or = 60 years), delay in diagnosis (> 4 months), hematologic malignancy, solid malignancy, altered mental status (coma, seizure, herniation), and CSF drainage or shunting were factors associated with increased death; factors associated with increased survival were amphotericin B based initial therapy and flucytosine containing therapy. In multivariate analysis, age > or = 60 years, the time from symptom onset to diagnosis > 4 months, coma, cerebral herniation, and non-amphotericin B based initial therapy were independently associated with increased overall mortality; factors independently associated with cause-specific mortality were time from symptom onset to diagnosis > 4 months, cerebral herniation and non-amphotericin B based initial therapy. A variety of factors were associated with mortality in non-AIDS cryptococcal meningitis. Amphotericin B based initial treatment was independently correlated to improved 1-year survival.