Raised intracranial pressure complicating cryptococcal meningitis: immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome or recurrent cryptococcal disease?

J Infect. 2005 Aug;51(2):165-71. doi: 10.1016/j.jinf.2005.04.022.

Abstract

We report the case of a patient with advanced HIV disease and cryptococcal meningitis, who after an initially good clinical and mycological response to systemic anti-fungal treatment developed symptomatic raised intracranial pressure 10 days after initiation of highly active anti-retroviral therapy. We describe the subsequent clinical management and the features that suggest that this persistently raised ICP was more likely due to an immune reconstitution syndrome (IRIS) following HAART rather than relapse of cryptococcal disease or failure of anti-fungal therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications*
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Adult
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / adverse effects*
  • Disease Management
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / complications*
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Intracranial Hypertension / etiology*
  • Meningitis, Cryptococcal / complications*
  • Meningitis, Cryptococcal / drug therapy
  • Recurrence
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents