title: [Value of latex agglutination test in the diagnosis and treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in children].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the value of cryptococcal latex agglutination test in the diagnosis and treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical data of 10 children with cryptococcal meningitis were retrospectively studied. Cryptococcal meningitis was confirmed based on clinical manifestations, India ink stain, cryptococcal latex agglutination test or cryptococcal culture. The outcome of antifungal treatment and the changes of latex agglutination test titer were followed up for 2 to 4 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Latex agglutination test and/or India ink stain were positive (titer 1 : 64-1 : 1024) in 8 patients in the first examination of cerebrospinal fluid. In the other 2 patients, latex agglutination test was positive (titer 1 : 256) in the fourth examination of cerebrospinal fluid in one, and India ink stain was positive in the eleventh examination in the other. After antifungal treatment, six patients were cured, two patients died, and two patients were lost to follow-up. The positive cryptococcal latex agglutination test (titer 1 : 2-1 : 16) was seen respectively in six, three, two and one cured patients 6 months, 1 year, 2 years and 4 years later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cryptococcal latex agglutination test of cerebrospinal fluid is valuable for the quick and early diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis; however, the decision of withdrawal of antifungal treatment should not rely on the results of the test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Xing-Zhi
authors.initials: XZ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ruo-Yu
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu-Qi
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xin-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Yue-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy