title: Cryptococcus neoformans peritonitis in two patients with liver cirrhosis.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans is an important pathogen in immunocompromised patients. We report 2 cases of spontaneous C. neoformans peritonitis in patients with liver cirrhosis, a condition not previously reported in Taiwan. Patient 1, a 59-year-old man with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, had primary C. neoformans peritonitis with fungemia. The patient recovered completely after prolonged fluconazole therapy without relapse. Patient 2, a 51-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis due to Budd-Chiari syndrome, had C. neoformans isolated from ascites, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood culture. In spite of adequate antifungal treatment, the patient died of fulminant sepsis. Information about the interaction and relation between liver cirrhosis and cryptococcal peritonitis is rare in the literature. The experience of these cases may help facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of cryptococcal peritonitis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shio-Shin
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jean
authors.forename: Jiun-Ling
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jann-Tay
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chi-Tai
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Yee-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shan-Chwen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology*