title: Immune reconstitution cryptococcosis after initiation of successful highly active antiretroviral therapy.
abstract: Five of 10 patients who commenced successful highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) concurrent with or soon after a diagnosis of cryptococcal infection experienced clinical events characterized by sterile inflammation. Two patients developed aseptic meningitis with elevated intracranial pressure, 1 developed intrathoracic lyphadenopathy with hypercalcemia, 1 developed cavitary pneumonia at the site of a cryptococcal nodule, and 1 developed a supraclavicular abscess. These events occurred 2-11 months after initiation of HAART. For 3 patients, biopsy demonstrated findings atypical for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated cryptococcosis. Results of fungal cultures were negative for all 5 patients, and cryptococcal antigen levels had declined markedly in 4 patients. The timing and clinical features of and biopsy findings for these cases of cryptococcosis suggest the existence of a paradoxical reaction to Cryptococcus infection that occurs in the context of HIV immune restoration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. jennyavita@aol.com
authors.forename: Elizabeth R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Jenny-Avital
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abadi
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000276:immunology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents