RESUMEN
Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (VPS) in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients with cryptococcal neoformans meningitis (CNM).Methods:Patients with AIDS and CNM who were hospitalized in Guangzhou Eighth People′s Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University from January 2015 to June 2020 were included and divided into VPS group and conventional treatment group.The data including symptoms and signs of meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, CSF routine examination, ink staining, Cryptococcus culture and Cryptococcus culture negative time were obtained, and the clinical efficacy compared between the two groups after six and 48 weeks of treatment.Two independent samples t test or chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results:Among 66 AIDS patients with CNM, 26 cases in VPS group were (35.7±11.9) years, and 11 cases (42.3%) had CSF pressure> 330 mmH 2O (1 mmH 2O=0.009 8 kPa) at admission, 25 cases (96.2%) were positive for ink staining, and 20 cases (76.9%) had positive culture of Cryptococcus neoformans in CSF. There were 40 cases in the conventional treatment group with age of (38.9±12.9) years, 15 cases (37.5%) had CSF pressure>330 mmH 2O, 32 cases (80.0%) were positive for ink staining, and 31 cases (77.5%) were positive for culture of Cryptococcus neoformans in CSF. There were no significant differences of age, the proportion of patients with CSF pressure>330 mmH 2O, positive rate of ink staining, positive rate of Cryptococcus culture between the two groups ( t=-1.02, χ2=0.15, 3.49 and 0.00, respectively; all P>0.050). All patients were administrated with antifungal treatment, decreasing CSF pressure treatment, nutritional support and symptomatic treatment after admission. VPS was performed in patients with poor responses after medical conservative treatment in VPS group. At week six of treatment, the recovery rate of CSF pressure in VPS group was 57.7%(15/26), and the partial remission rate was 73.1%(19/26), which were both higher than those in conventional treatment group (31.0%(9/29) and 47.5%(19/40), respectively). The differences were both statistically significant ( χ2=3.96 and 4.22, respectively, both P<0.050). At week 48 of treatment, the recovery rate of CSF pressure in VPS group was 92.3%(24/26), the negative rate of Cryptococcus culture in CSF was 100.0%(20/20), and the complete remission rate was 46.2%(12/26), which were all higher than those in conventional treatment group (37.9%(11/29), 67.7%(21/31) and 20.0%(8/40), respectively). The differences were all statistically significant ( χ2=17.52, 8.03 and 5.10, respectively, all P<0.050). In VPS group, 22 cases were complete or partial remission, four cases were ineffective, and no death occurred, while there were 23 cases of complete or partial remission, 12 cases of ineffective and five cases of death in the conventional treatment group. The proportion of ineffective or death in the VPS group was 15.4%(4/26), which was lower than 42.5%(17/40) in the conventional treatment group. The difference was statistically significant ( χ2=5.34, P=0.021). Conclusions:VPS in AIDS patients with CNM could significantly improve the treatment outcomes, and reduce the rates of treatment failure and mortality.
RESUMEN
Resumen Introducción: La meningitis Criptocócica (MC) es una infección grave del Sistema Nervioso Central. El diagnóstico y tratamiento de estos pacientes suele ser complejo, tanto por la severidad de las manifestaciones clínicas, como por sus complicaciones. El objetivo de este trabajo es describir los diferentes contextos clínicos, las características neuroradiológicas y las complicaciones en estos pacientes. Pacientes: Se realizó una revisión retrospectiva de los factores clínicos y radiológicos de 7 pacientes atendidos con MC durante el periodo octubre 2016 y septiembre del 2017, en el hospital Eugenio Espejo. Resultados: Predominó el sexo masculino (6/7), con una edad promedio 31,6 años (rango 19-44). El tiempo promedio que tardó el diagnóstico fue de 8,1 semanas. Se evidenciaron causas de inmunosupresión en 5 pacientes, dos VIH positivos, un caso de Leucemia Linfoblástica Aguda, linfopenia idiopática CD4 y Linfagectasia Intestinal Primaria respectivamente. La disminución de la agudeza visual, auditiva y la criptococosis diseminada se presentaron en 3 de los enfermos, con una mortalidad del 26,8%. La hipoglucorraquia fue una característica relevante de los enfermos, el promedio fue de 12,7mmg/dl. En la IRM la lesión más común fue la dilatación de los espacios de Virchow Robins (5/7), seguido de las lesiones isquémicas (2/7). Conclusiones: La MC presenta una elevada morbimortalidad, con síntomas iniciales que pueden ser inespecíficos lo que retarda el diagnóstico e inicio de los antifúngicos. Las condiciones inmunosupresoras predisponentes pueden ser múltiples y en ocasiones todo un reto diagnóstico.
Abstract Introduction: Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a serious infection of the Central Nervous System. The diagnosis and treatment of these patients is often complex, due to the severity of the clinical manifestations and their complications. The aim of this study is to describe the different clinical contexts, the neuroradiological characteristics and the complications of patients with CM. Patients: We performed a retrospective review of clinical and radiological factors of 7 patient's diagnosis and treated with CM during the period October 2016 and September 2017, at the Eugenio Espejo Hospital. Results: Male sex was predominant (6/7), with an average age of 31.6 years (Range 19-44). The average time for the diagnosis was 8.1 weeks. Immunosuppression causes were evidenced in 5 patients, two HIV positive, one case with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, CD4 idiopathic lymphopenia and Primary Intestinal Linfagectasia respectively. Three patients developed complications as disseminated cryptococcosis, visual acuity and hearing loss, mortality rate reach 26.8% of patients. Hypoglycorrhachia was a relevant feature with average 12.7mmg / dl. In MRI, the most common lesion was dilatation of Virchow Robins spaces (5/7), followed by ischemic lesions. Conclusions: CM is characterized for high morbidity and mortality, initial symptoms may be nonspecific and delays the diagnosis as well as initiation of antifungal agents. Several predisposing immunosuppressive conditions can be found and sometimes a diagnostic challenge.
RESUMEN
Objective To study the curative effect of cerebrospinal fluid replacement combining intravenous drips and intrathecal injection of amphotericin B in the treatment of cryptococcal neoformans meningitis(CNM for short).Methods 28 CNM patients were randomly divided into two groups.Group A was the treatment group,and the treatment method was cerebrospinal fluid replacement combining intravenous drips and intrathecal injection of amphotericin B.Group B was the control group,and the treatment method was only intravenous drips and intrathecal injection of arnphotericin B.The period of treatment was 16 weeks.The curative effect was assessed in terms of symptoms,physical features,CSF routine examination,CSF cultivation and smear examination.Results The cura- tive effect of treatment group was better than that of the control group.There were remarkable differences between these two groups(P