[A case of cryptococcal pneumonia accompanying meningitis].
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.
Tajiri
Tomoko
T
Department of Respiratory Diseases, Japan Red Cross Society, Wakayama Medical Center.
Ikeue
Tatsuyoshi
T
Nakagawa
Atsushi
A
Huruta
Kenjiro
K
Morita
Kyohei
K
Maniwa
Ko
K
Watanabe
Shigeki
S
Sugita
Takakazu
T
Horikawa
Sadao
S
Nishiyama
Hideki
H
Maekawa
Nobuo
N
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*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones