Bone marrow cryptococcal infection in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the bone marrow lesions in eight cases of Cryptococcus neoformans infection involving the bone marrow in HIV-infected patients.


METHODS
Archival bone marrow biopsies from patients with HIV-related cryptococcosis of the bone marrow were retrospectively reviewed. Cryptocococcal organisms were identified on haematoxylin- and eosin-stained slides and confirmed using mucicarmine staining.


RESULTS
Yeast cells stimulated a granulomatous response in all cases despite immunosuppression. The number of cryptococcal organisms appeared to be inversely proportional to the adequacy of the granulomatous response. All patients had a cytopenia.


CONCLUSIONS
The ability to mount a tissue response in order to localize organisms is retained in patients with AIDS. Infection of the bone marrow with cryptococci may act in synergy with HIV to cause cytopenia.
Pantanowitz
L
L
Department of Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and South African Institute for Medical Research, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Omar
T
T
Sonnendecker
H
H
Karstaedt
A S
AS
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D002329:Carmine; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013194:Staining and Labeling
D004396:Coloring Agents; C029618:mucicarmine; D002329:Carmine