Biomaterial Database

Cryptococcal meningitis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. 1990

L A Panther, and M A Sande

Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94102.

Cryptococcosis is the most common, deep-seated fungal infection in AIDS patients, and cryptococcal meningitis is the most frequently observed syndrome. AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis usually have an indolent presentation and nonspecific findings on physical examination. Routine laboratory tests are of little assistance in diagnosing cryptococcal meningitis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white blood cell counts tend to be low, and glucose and protein levels are nonspecific. Serum cryptococcal antigen (CRAG) is a sensitive test for cryptococcal meningitis, and CSF CRAG is usually also positive. Definitive diagnosis is made by culture of the CSF. Therapy of cryptococcal meningitis is changing to antifungal agents that are easy to administer as outpatient therapy. Amphotericin B continues to be the primary antifungal used in initial treatment of cryptococcal meningitis; addition of flucytosine is of no benefit. Recent data suggest oral fluconazole is effective as primary therapy, and may be superior to amphotericin B as maintenance therapy. Maintenance therapy decreases the incidence of relapse and increases survival.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008581	Meningitis	Inflammation of the coverings of the brain and/or spinal cord, which consist of the PIA MATER; ARACHNOID; and DURA MATER. Infections (viral, bacterial, and fungal) are the most common causes of this condition, but subarachnoid hemorrhage (HEMORRHAGES, SUBARACHNOID), chemical irritation (chemical MENINGITIS), granulomatous conditions, neoplastic conditions (CARCINOMATOUS MENINGITIS), and other inflammatory conditions may produce this syndrome. (From Joynt, Clinical Neurology, 1994, Ch24, p6)	Pachymeningitis,Meningitides,Pachymeningitides
D012008	Recurrence	The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission.	Recrudescence,Relapse,Recrudescences,Recurrences,Relapses
D003453	Cryptococcosis	Fungal infection caused by genus CRYPTOCOCCUS.	C gattii Infection,C neoformans Infection,C. gattii Infection,C. neoformans Infection,Cryptococcus Infection,Cryptococcus Infections,Cryptococcus gattii Infection,Torulosis,Cryptococcus neoformans Infection,C gattii Infections,C neoformans Infections,C. gattii Infections,C. neoformans Infections,Cryptococcoses,Cryptococcus gattii Infections,Cryptococcus neoformans Infections,Infection, C gattii,Infection, C neoformans,Infection, C. gattii,Infection, C. neoformans,Infection, Cryptococcus,Infection, Cryptococcus gattii,Infection, Cryptococcus neoformans,Infections, C gattii,Infections, C. neoformans,Toruloses
D003455	Cryptococcus neoformans	A species of the fungus CRYPTOCOCCUS. Its teleomorph is Filobasidiella neoformans.	Blastomyces neoformans,Debaryomyces neoformans,Filobasidiella neoformans,Lipomyces neoformans,Saccharomyces neoformans,Torula neoformans,Torulopsis neoformans,Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000163	Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome	An acquired defect of cellular immunity associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a CD4-positive T-lymphocyte count under 200 cells/microliter or less than 14% of total lymphocytes, and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and malignant neoplasms. Clinical manifestations also include emaciation (wasting) and dementia. These elements reflect criteria for AIDS as defined by the CDC in 1993.	AIDS,Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome,Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes,Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndromes,Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, Acquired,Immuno-Deficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Immunodeficiency Syndromes, Acquired,Syndrome, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndrome, Acquired Immunodeficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immuno-Deficiency,Syndromes, Acquired Immunodeficiency
D000666	Amphotericin B	Macrolide antifungal antibiotic produced by Streptomyces nodosus obtained from soil of the Orinoco river region of Venezuela.	Amphocil,Amphotericin,Amphotericin B Cholesterol Dispersion,Amphotericin B Colloidal Dispersion,Fungizone