title: Fungal burden, early fungicidal activity, and outcome in cryptococcal meningitis in antiretroviral-naive or antiretroviral-experienced patients treated with amphotericin B or fluconazole.
abstract: In a prospective observational study of 54 patients with human immunodeficiency virus-associated cryptococcal meningitis, the early fungicidal activity of amphotericin B (1 mg/kg/day) was significantly greater than that of fluconazole (400 mg/day). Compared with antiretroviral therapy-naive patients, patients developing cryptococcal meningitis while already receiving antiretroviral therapy had lower baseline fungal burdens and a longer median duration of survival, but there were no differences observed in fungal clearance, cerebrospinal fluid proinflammatory cytokines, or 10-week mortality.
authors.affiliation: Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Cape Town, South Africa. tihana.bicanic@stgeorges.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Tihana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bicanic
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Meintjes
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Madeleine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rebe
authors.forename: Linda-Gail
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Bekker
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D000328:Adult; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D000666:Amphotericin B; D015725:Fluconazole