Observation on the treatment efficacy of Cryptococcal neoformans meningitis / 中华传染病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the influence of treatment duration on the prognosis of Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis (CNM). Methods The clinical data of 30 patients with CNM were retrospectively analyzed. The time of Cryptococcus neoformans culture in cerebrospinal fluid turned to be negative were compared between patients with and without amphotericin B (AmB)endoneurilemma injection to determine whether endoneurilemma injection would make any difference on prognosis of CNM. Statistic analysis was performed by t test. Results The time of Cryptococcus neoformans culture in cerebrospinal fluid turned to be negative was (22. 73 ± 10. 00) days in 11patients with AmB endoneurilemma injection compared to (18. 92±7. 26) days in 13 patients without endoneurilemma injection. The difference was not statistically significant (t = 0. 172,P>0. 05). The effective rate was 45. 8% after 2-week anti Cryptococcus neoformans treatment, which increased to 100.0% after 6-week treatment. However, the curative rate at week 6 of treatment was 0. All ten patients who finished the treatment (three to four months' treatment) were acquired effective.Conclusion Treatment with standard dosage and adequate duration is crucial in improving the prognosis of Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis.