title: [A case of cryptococcal meningitis mimicking hepatic encephalopathy in a patient with liver cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis C].
abstract: Cryptococcus neoformans, an encapsulated fungus, is an important opportunistic pathogen that can cause meningitis in im-munocompromised patients. Since patients with cryptococcemia have high mortality, it is essential to make an early diagnosis and promptly initiate antifungal therapy. However, it is often very difficult to differentiate between cryptococcal meningitis and hepatic encephalopathy in patients with liver cirrhosis, and there is delay in making the diagnosis. Therefore, these patients have a particularly grave prognosis and consequently many patients die before culture results become available. In one study, starting antifungal therapy within 48 hours of the blood culture was associated with improved survival, but patients with liver cirrhosis were significantly less likely to receive antifungal therapy within 48 hours compared to those without liver cirrhosis. Recently, the authors experience a case of a 68-year-old woman with liver cirrhosis who presented with fever and a drowsy mental status. She had a previous history of having been admitted for infection-associated hepatic encephlopathy. Cryptococcal meningitis and cryptococcemia were diagnosed by spinal puncture and culture of cerebrospinal fluid. In spite of adequate treatment, the patient developed multi-system organ failure and eventually expired. Herein, we report a case of cryptococcal meningitis mimicking hepatic encephalopathy in a patient with liver cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Seonam University College of Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Mi
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Seonam University College of Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Gum Mo
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Seonam University College of Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Woong Ki
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Seonam University College of Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeuk Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Seonam University College of Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Byung Sun
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Seonam University College of Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Choong Sil
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Seong
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Seonam University College of Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: So Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Seonam University College of Medicine, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Keun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003454:Cryptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed