title: Disseminated cryptococcosis in HIV-uninfected patients.
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans usually causes disease in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This descriptive study was based on a retrospective review of 33 HIV-uninfected patients with disseminated cryptococcosis from 1998 to 2005. An underlying condition associated with immunocompromise was documented in 30 patients (90.9%), including liver cirrhosis (36.4%), diabetes mellitus (33.3%) and autoimmune disease (27.3%). Disseminated cryptococcosis carried a high mortality rate in this series, reaching 63% overall, with a median survival of 21 days. All patients (12/12) with liver cirrhosis died within the first month after the diagnosis of cryptococcosis. Otherwise, high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, female gender and smoking history were associated with worse one-month outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Yun-Lin Branch, Douliu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Y-M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Y-C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: H-T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: C-J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: P-C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: P-R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hsueh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents