Use of cerebrospinal fluid shunts in patients having acquired immunodeficiency syndrome with cryptococcal meningitis and uncontrollable intracranial hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment of serious and uncontrollable intracranial hypertension in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who developed cryptococcal meningitis. METHODS: All cases of cryptococcal meningitis with elevated pressure and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome were reviewed in detail and described. RESULTS: Cerebrospinal fluid shunting dramatically improved these critically ill patients and was much more successful than serial lumbar punctures or the use of high-dose dexamethasone. CONCLUSION: Patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome who develop cryptococcal meningitis and who suffer serious visual loss or ocular palsies with elevated pressures should be considered for cerebrospinal fluid shunting at an early stage.

A pseudo-outbreak of Mycobacterium chelonae infections related to bronchoscopy.

Mycobacterium gordonae and rapidly growing "atypical" mycobacteria including Mycobacterium chelonae are commonly found in tap water. This article describes a pseudo-outbreak of M chelonae infections related to bronchoscopy. Because patients may be treated and isolated unnecessarily when positive with acid-fast bacilli before the species are known, the financial burden for patients and hospitals may be great.

A practical guide to antiretroviral drug use.

These agents seem beneficial in all HIV-infected patients with CD4 counts under 500 cells/mm3, but the effects are time limited and related to baseline immune status. Active viral replication is now known to occur even during periods of clinical latency.

Resistance to ddI and sensitivity to AZT induced by a mutation in HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Serial human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) isolates were obtained from five individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) who changed therapy to 2',3'-dideoxyinosine (ddI) after at least 12 months of treatment with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (zidovudine, AZT). The in vitro sensitivity to ddI decreased during the 12 months following ddI initiation, whereas AZT sensitivity increased. Analysis of the reverse transcriptase coding region revealed a mutation associated with reduced sensitivity to ddI. When this mutation was present in the same genome as a mutation known to confer AZT resistance, the isolates showed increased sensitivity to AZT. Analysis of HIV-1 variants confirmed that the ddI resistance mutation alone conferred ddI and 2',3'-dideoxycytidine resistance, and suppressed the effect of the AZT resistance mutation. The use of combination therapy for HIV-1 disease may prevent drug-resistant isolates from emerging.

Occult Candida thyroid abscess diagnosed by gallium-67 scanning.

A clinically silent fungal thyroid abscess was identified by Ga-67 citrate scanning and successfully drained surgically in a young leukemic patient. Whole-body radionuclide scanning remains a valuable method to help diagnose persistent fever in the immunocompromised host.

Failure of indium-111 leukocyte scanning to detect nodal involvement with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

An In-111 leukocyte scan was used to evaluate fever of unknown origin in a patient with the AIDS rather than Ga-67. The scan was normal despite an impressively positive Ga-67 scan performed 48 hours later. In-111 should not be used to evaluate fever in patients with AIDS where mycrobacterium avium-intracellular infection is a diagnostic possibility.

Septic anaerobic jugular phlebitis with pulmonary embolism: problems in management.

Anaerobic gram-negative bacillary bacteremia and multiple septic pulmonary emboli developed rapidly in two previously healthy young men after an episode of pharyngitis. One patient developed proptosis and subsequent uniocular blindness. In both cases facial swelling was an early sign of jugular vein involvement. In patients not responding to antibiotic therapy, systemic anticoagulation or surgical venous ligation may be potentially useful as an additional therapeutic measure. Septic jugular vein phlebitis is a serious condition that requires early recognition and rapid institution of appropriate therapy.

CMV retinitis treated with ganciclovir [9(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl) guanine] in patients with AIDS.

Three patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and disseminated cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection were treated with a new antiviral agent ganciclovir [9(1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethyl) guanine] (DHPG). All initially showed dramatic clinical improvement. In two patients, serial ophthalmoscopic evaluations documented cessation of active retinitis although at autopsy one patient had evidence of active retinitis adjacent to scar. Reappearance of cotton-wool spots in the fundi of the third patient suggested an early relapse of his CMV infection which was halted by retreatment with ganciclovir. Two of the three patients developed breakthrough infection while receiving once-daily maintenance therapy after periods of three to five months. One patient continued to show a response to retreatment with full doses twelve months later but died after 17 months of progressive CMV disease. The dose of the drug needed to maintain remission requires further study.