title: [A case of cryptococcal pneumonia accompanying meningitis].
abstract: Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection caused by cryptococcus neoformans. Cryptococcal pneumonia occurs due to inhalation of the organism into the respiratory tract, sometimes accompanied by meningitis in immunocompromised patients, and can be life-threatening. We report a case of cryptococcal meningitis occurring during corticosteroid therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 82-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis was given a diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis, and improved after administeration of amphotericin B in combination with flucytosine. However 3 weeks later, side effects occurred, she was given fluconazole alone, but her condition worsened and she died. In severe cases of cryptococcal meningitis, we should take into account drug susceptibility tests and drug concentrations at the site of infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Japan Red Cross Society, Wakayama Medical Center.
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tajiri
authors.forename: Tatsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeue
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Kenjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huruta
authors.forename: Kyohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maniwa
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Takakazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugita
authors.forename: Sadao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horikawa
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishiyama
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maekawa
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000209:etiology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones