title: A pilot study of the discontinuation of antifungal therapy for disseminated cryptococcal disease in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, following immunologic response to antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: To determine whether microbiologic cure of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related disseminated cryptococcosis is possible in patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), antifungal therapy was discontinued in 6 patients with a history of disseminated cryptococcosis who had received > or =12 months of antifungal therapy. All were asymptomatic and had absolute CD4+ T cell counts of >150 cells/microL (range, 178-525 cells/microL). Blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and urine samples were obtained for fungal culture. Serum and CSF cryptococcal antigen titers were also obtained. All 6 patients had CSF and blood cultures negative for Cryptococcus neoformans and were receiving HAART. All patients' subsequent cultures remained sterile, and all patients were clinically asymptomatic 24 months after ending antifungal therapy. Disseminated cryptococcal disease can be cured by prolonged antifungal therapy in some patients with AIDS who experience sustained CD4 lymphocyte increases while receiving HAART.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. jaberg@im.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Aberg
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: Dorie M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Heeren
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bredt
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000097:blood; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D015725:Fluconazole