title: Cryptococcal disease in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Diagnostic features and outcome of treatment.
abstract: Between 1 January 1981 and 1 December 1984, 34 of 396 patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) developed cryptococcal infections. Twenty-six cases are reviewed. Twenty-two patients had brain or meningeal disease; the others had pulmonary disease (2 patients), pericarditis (1 patient), and antigenemia (1 patient). During treatment, 3 patients died of cryptococcosis and 3 died of other causes. Fifteen patients were followed for more than 6 weeks after treatment. Of 8 patients who received no additional amphotericin B, 4 had relapses and died of cryptococcosis within 6 months, 3 died of other causes, and 1 survived. Of 7 patients who received maintenance therapy with amphotericin B, none had relapses, 3 died of other causes, and 4 survived. Our data suggest that maintenance therapy with amphotericin may be needed to prevent relapse in patients with AIDS.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005437:Flucytosine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000666:Amphotericin B; D005437:Flucytosine