Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) associated with Cryptococcus neoformans infection in AIDS patients

Cryptococcosis is frequently associated to the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in AIDS patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This study aimed to evaluate clinical and evolutive features of IRIS associated cryptococcosis patients in Uberaba, Brazil. Patients: Eighty‐one AIDS individuals admitted at the teaching hospital with cryptococcal meningitis were evaluated and from these, 40 were prospectively followed. Of 40 patients with cryptococcosis, nine (22.5%) presented clinical and laboratory features of IRIS. Six (66.6%) were male, with a mean age of 37.2. Five (55.5%) presented cryptococcosis as first AIDS defining condition. In seven (77.9%) IRIS was characterised as a relapse of meningeal symptoms after 10 weeks, mean time of 72 days, of starting HAART whereas, two asymptomatic patients developed the syndrome as an unmasked cryptococcosis after 10 and 12 weeks on HAART. Lymphadenitis as isolated finding associated with IRIS was evidenced in three cases. All patients presented low CD4⁺ and high RNA viral load baseline values. Cultures of cerebrospinal fluid and lymph‐node fragments tissues of these cases were negative. Six of nine individuals developed high intracranial pressure requiring a daily relief lumbar puncture. No deaths occurred during the evolution of these patients. The incidence and clinical evolutive profile observed in this case series are in accordance with other reports elsewhere.     

Case Reports. Pulmonary cryptococcosis associated with cryptococcal meningitis in non-AIDS patients

We report four cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis associated with cryptococcal meningitis in non-HIV infected patients. All four patients had no apparent symptoms and signs of focal lesions that necessitate evaluation for the pulmonary lesion. Two out of four patients had radiologic evidence of pulmonary cavitation and mass lesions simultaneously, an uncommon finding in non-AIDS patients. Diagnostic and therapeutic problems of pulmonary cryptococcosis associated with cryptococcal meningitis are discussed.     

隐球菌性脑膜炎的临床治疗及疗效附12例分析

目的:回顾性分析12例隐球菌性脑膜炎的临床资料、治疗及预后。方法:动态观察12例隐球菌性脑膜炎患者的临床表现,使用二性霉素B、氟康唑、氟胞嘧啶及鞘注二性霉素B的临床疗效及转归,以及药物的不良反应和处理措施。结果:患者均取得良好的疗效,均治愈。二性霉素B的总量在2．36～10．5g,其不良反应多、严重。结论:使用二性霉素B静滴及鞘注,联合氟康唑和／或氟胞嘧啶效果确切,使用二性霉素B须个体化,加强对症支持疗法是成功不可缺少的重要措施。     

Fatal Cryptococcus gattii Meningitis with Negative Cryptococcal Antigen Test in a HIV-Non-Infected Patient

Cryptococcus gattii predominantly causes central nervous system and pulmonary infection in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with substantial morbidity. We report a case of rapidly fatal meningitis by C. gattii in an HIV–non-infected man with CD4 lymphopenia who tested negative for cryptococcal antigen. This case may serve as an alert to its wider occurrence and less explored risk factors.     

高颅压下鞘内注射两性霉素B治疗隐球菌性脑膜炎

目的：研究高颅压下鞘内注射两性霉素Ｂ（ＡＭＢ）治疗隐球菌性脑膜炎的疗效与安全性。方法：２３例隐球菌性脑膜炎患者，鞘内注射组１１例，采用鞘内注射和同时静脉滴注ＡＭＢ，合用氟康唑或氟胞嘧啶。非鞘内注射组１２例，不采用鞘内注射治疗，其他治疗与鞘内注射组相同。结果：鞘内注射组全部治愈，未遗留后遗症。非鞘内注射组治愈７例，好转２例，死亡３例。结论：鞘内注射是抢救和治疗隐球菌性脑膜炎、缓解高颅内压、减少后遗症值得推荐的治疗措施     

艾滋病合并隐球菌性与结核性脑膜炎多重感染的临床及影像学特征分析

 目的 探究艾滋病（aquired immunodeficiency syndrome,AIDS）合并隐球菌性脑膜炎（cryptococcal meningitis,CM）与结核性脑膜炎（tuberculous meningitis,TBM）多重感染患者的临床与MRI影像特点,为临床诊治提供参考。方法 回顾性分析上海市公共卫生临床中心2015年9月至2021年10月收治的39例艾滋病合并隐球菌性与结核性脑膜炎（AIDS/CM/TBM）患者的临床资料,并比较其与61例艾滋病合并隐球菌性脑膜炎（AIDS/CM）患者和42例艾滋病合并结核性脑膜炎（AIDS/TBM）患者的临床表现、实验室指标及头颅MRI影像特征等方面的差异。结果 AIDS/CM/TBM组患者头痛的发生率高于AIDS/TBM组,抽搐、视力障碍、意识障碍的发生率高于AIDS/CM组和AIDS/TBM组,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。32例（82.0%）AIDS/CM/TBM患者CD4⁺T淋巴细胞计数≤100个/μL。AIDS/CM/TBM组白细胞计数、脑脊液蛋白水平均高于AIDS/CM组,脑脊液糖水平低于AIDS/CM组;脑脊液压力和脑脊液氯化物水平高于AIDS/TBM组,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。34例（87.2%）AIDS/CM/TBM患者头颅MRI检查存在病灶,多发为主,呈脑膜炎和脑膜脑炎表现,脑叶病灶发生率高于AIDS/CM组,血管周围间隙扩大或胶样假囊的出现率低于AIDS/CM组,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示头痛、意识障碍及脑脊液糖≤1.85 mmol/L与AIDS/CM/TBM多重感染相关（P=0.009,0.005,0.002）。结论 AIDS/CM/TBM临床表现更重,实验室检查变化更显著,头颅MRI表现以脑膜炎和脑膜脑炎为主;头痛、意识障碍及脑脊液糖≤1.85 mmol/L对其诊断具有提示意义,有助于临床及时干预。     

Voriconazole in an infant with cryptococcal meningitis

Cryptococcus neoformans （C. neoformans） is the most common cause of fungal meningitis worldwide.1 Cryptococcal meningitis is an opportunistic infection commonly found in immunocompromised hosts, especially HIV-infected adults. It also occurs in apparently immunocompetent individuals. Rarely has it been reported in children, and it is almost nonexistent in infants. Voriconazole is a member of a second generation of antifungal triazoles with broad spectrum antifungal activity, oral and parenteral bioavailability and a favorable safety profile in adults.3 This patient shows improved in vitro activity against C. neoformans when compared to fluconazole and it has been used successfully in about half the patients with refractory cryptococcosis.4 However, the efficacy and safety of voriconazole as a antifungal agent in children with cryptococcal meningitis have not been well assessed, This report described cryptococcal meningitis in a 13-day-old premature neonate who recovered without overt toxicity after voriconazole was added to an antifungal regimen that included amphotericin B and flucytosine. We focused on the response of this child with cryptococcal meningitis to voriconazole.     

结节型与团块渗出型肺隐球菌病的临床特征分析

目的：将肺隐球菌病（pulmonary cryptococcosis，PC）患者肺部CT表现分为结节为主型或团块渗出为主型两组，分析两组患者的临床表现的差异，为早期诊断识别肺隐球菌病提供帮助。方法：回顾性分析2010年1月1日至2021年1月1日期间复旦大学附属中山医院非HIV感染PC的住院患者，依据首次诊断时胸部CT病灶表现，分为结节型组、团块渗出型组，收集并分析两组间年龄、性别、基础疾病、临床症状、炎症指标和隐球菌荚膜抗原(CrAg)等相关临床资料。结果：本研究共纳入患者187例（男女比例1.71：1），分为结节型组（121例，64.7%）、团块渗出型组（66例，35.3%）。与结节型组患者比较，团块渗出型组发病年龄更早[（46.61±15.35）岁 vs （53.31±12.39）岁，P<0.01]；咳嗽（57.6% vs 35.5%，P<0.01）、咳痰（36.4% vs 17.4%，P<0.01）、发热（36.4% vs 11.6%，P<0.01）更多见；血沉[（28.34±24.11）mm/H vs（16.08±16.41）mm/H，P<0.01]、C反应蛋白[（18.20±25.02）mg/L vs （6.35±12.71）mg/L，P<0.01]更高；淋巴细胞比例低于20%的发生率更高（46.9%vs 25.4%，P<0.01）；CrAg阳性率更高（93.4% vs 81.3%，P<0.05），CrAg滴度更高（采用-lg值表示，2.01±0.93 vs 1.08±0.81，P<0.05）。而两组间白细胞计数、中性粒细胞计数、中性粒细胞比例、淋巴细胞计数、降钙素原均无显著性差异（P>0.05）。结论：非HIV感染PC患者胸部CT结节型更多见（64.7%）。相较于结节型患者，团块渗出型PC患者年龄更小、临床症状更多、炎症指标更高、CrAg阳性率及滴度更高。     

新型隐球菌性脑膜炎合并肾病综合征患儿的药学监护

目的为新型隐球菌性脑膜炎合并肾病综合征的患儿提供用药参考。方法临床药师参与患儿治疗方案的制定,治疗过程中对患儿抗感染治疗、降颅压治疗及肾病综合征的治疗进行疗效监护,并通过监护患儿的肾功能及电解质情况,及时调整肾毒性药物的用法用量,根据患者病情和药物不良反应发生情况提供个体化给药方案和建议。结果与结论抗隐球菌治疗有效,肾病综合征病情平稳,颅高压症状得到改善,低钾血症、低镁血症得到纠正,肾功能损害没有进一步加重。临床药师将药学理论知识和临床实践相结合,获得临床医师认可,进一步促进了患儿安全合理用药。