Cryptococcal Meningitis in an HIV-Negative Puerperal Woman
Cryptococcal meningitis is a common opportunistic infection in HIV-infected patients and other immunocompromised people. Pregnancy, which is a state of relative immunosuppression, can also be a risk factor for the development of cryptococcal meningitis. We report a clinical case of a 41-year-old wom...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Case Reports in Infectious Diseases |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6665624 |
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| _version_ | 1850159982161428480 |
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| author | Tomás Robalo Nunes Helena Pires Liliana Alves Ana Guerra Susana Boavida Ana Brito Inês Marques Nuno Marques |
| author_facet | Tomás Robalo Nunes Helena Pires Liliana Alves Ana Guerra Susana Boavida Ana Brito Inês Marques Nuno Marques |
| author_sort | Tomás Robalo Nunes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cryptococcal meningitis is a common opportunistic infection in HIV-infected patients and other immunocompromised people. Pregnancy, which is a state of relative immunosuppression, can also be a risk factor for the development of cryptococcal meningitis. We report a clinical case of a 41-year-old woman who developed a severe meningeal syndrome after an otherwise normal pregnancy. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytochemical analysis presented hypoglycorrhachia, high protein levels, and pleocytosis. Cryptococcal antigen tested positive in serum and CSF, and Cryptococcus neoformans was identified in the CSF culture. The diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis was confirmed, and antifungal induction therapy was started with liposomal amphotericin B and flucytosine. After clinical improvement, induction therapy was discontinued, and the patient was discharged under maintenance therapy with fluconazole. While under antifungal maintenance therapy, the patient presented worsening of symptoms and a new brain magnetic resonance showed the development of multiple cryptococcoma. Despite sterile CSF cultures, there was a deterioration of the cytochemical parameters. The diagnosis of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome was assumed, and after initiation of corticotherapy, the patient improved considerably. This is a rare case of cryptococcal meningitis in a puerperal woman with a challenging management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b24b80a8a031494ea05f5498fa369cbe |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2090-6625 2090-6633 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Case Reports in Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-b24b80a8a031494ea05f5498fa369cbe2025-08-20T02:23:18ZengWileyCase Reports in Infectious Diseases2090-66252090-66332021-01-01202110.1155/2021/66656246665624Cryptococcal Meningitis in an HIV-Negative Puerperal WomanTomás Robalo Nunes0Helena Pires1Liliana Alves2Ana Guerra3Susana Boavida4Ana Brito5Inês Marques6Nuno Marques7Infectious Diseases Resident, Infectious Diseases Service, Hospital Garcia de Orta EPE, Almada, PortugalInfectious Diseases Resident, Infectious Diseases Service, Hospital Garcia de Orta EPE, Almada, PortugalConsultant in Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases Service, Hospital Garcia de Orta EPE, Almada, PortugalConsultant in Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases Service, Hospital Garcia de Orta EPE, Almada, PortugalConsultant in Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases Service, Hospital Garcia de Orta EPE, Almada, PortugalConsultant in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases Service, Hospital Garcia de Orta EPE, Almada, PortugalConsultant in Neurology, Neurology Service, Hospital Garcia de Orta EPE, Almada, PortugalHead of Department of Infectious Diseases, Infectious Diseases Service, Hospital Garcia de Orta EPE, Almada, PortugalCryptococcal meningitis is a common opportunistic infection in HIV-infected patients and other immunocompromised people. Pregnancy, which is a state of relative immunosuppression, can also be a risk factor for the development of cryptococcal meningitis. We report a clinical case of a 41-year-old woman who developed a severe meningeal syndrome after an otherwise normal pregnancy. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytochemical analysis presented hypoglycorrhachia, high protein levels, and pleocytosis. Cryptococcal antigen tested positive in serum and CSF, and Cryptococcus neoformans was identified in the CSF culture. The diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis was confirmed, and antifungal induction therapy was started with liposomal amphotericin B and flucytosine. After clinical improvement, induction therapy was discontinued, and the patient was discharged under maintenance therapy with fluconazole. While under antifungal maintenance therapy, the patient presented worsening of symptoms and a new brain magnetic resonance showed the development of multiple cryptococcoma. Despite sterile CSF cultures, there was a deterioration of the cytochemical parameters. The diagnosis of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome was assumed, and after initiation of corticotherapy, the patient improved considerably. This is a rare case of cryptococcal meningitis in a puerperal woman with a challenging management.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6665624 |
| spellingShingle | Tomás Robalo Nunes Helena Pires Liliana Alves Ana Guerra Susana Boavida Ana Brito Inês Marques Nuno Marques Cryptococcal Meningitis in an HIV-Negative Puerperal Woman Case Reports in Infectious Diseases |
| title | Cryptococcal Meningitis in an HIV-Negative Puerperal Woman |
| title_full | Cryptococcal Meningitis in an HIV-Negative Puerperal Woman |
| title_fullStr | Cryptococcal Meningitis in an HIV-Negative Puerperal Woman |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cryptococcal Meningitis in an HIV-Negative Puerperal Woman |
| title_short | Cryptococcal Meningitis in an HIV-Negative Puerperal Woman |
| title_sort | cryptococcal meningitis in an hiv negative puerperal woman |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6665624 |
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