Treatment of central nervous system cryptococcosis; laboratory studies.

Abstract

THE PROBLEM of therapy in infections with Cryptococcus neoformans remains unsolved. In a previous publication1the use of a wide variety of drugs in the treatment of central nervous system cryptococcosis was reviewed, with particular emphasis on the results obtained with fever therapy, protoanemonin, Bacillus subtilis derivatives and cycloheximide (Acti-Dione). Experience with the latter drug was summarized and its use in four cases of central nervous system cryptococcosis reported with improvement in one case (the patient subsequently dying) and perhaps a in another; the latter patient has been followed for one and one-half years without relapse of the disease. Wilson and Duryea2have likewise reported a cure with cycloheximide. However, in other cases of cryptococcic meningitis cycloheximide appeared to have had no effect upon the course of the infection. Other agents have since been reported as having an inhibitory or fungicidal effect against C. neoformans; namely, prodigiosin,