Neurological dysfunction as the first manifestation of AIDS has been found in 10 to 20% of symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus infections. However, stroke has rarely been reported in AIDS patients. The most common causes of cerebral infarction in AIDS are central nervous system infections: toxoplasmosis, cryptococcal meningitis and tuberculosis. Potential vascular mechanisms for cerebral i...

OBJECTIVE To verify the relationship between intracranial pressure and flash visual evoked potentials (F-VEP) in patients with cryptococcal meningitis. Method The sample included adults diagnosed with cryptococcal meningitis admitted at a reference hospital for infectious diseases. The patients were subjected to F-VEP tests shortly before lumbar puncture. The Pearson’s linear correlation coeffi...

Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast-like fungus found in avian excreta, soil, and decayed wood [1]. The respiratory tract is the primary route of cryptococcal infection from yeast inhalation, and the infection can disseminate to most other organs [2, 3], although the main target organs are the lungs and the central nervous system (CNS) [4]. The most common manifestations in cases o...

A 36-year-old homosexual Mexican man was admitted to our hospital, with a 30-day history of fever and headache. Upon cerebrospinal fluid examination, the patient's white blood cell count was 1,580/L, total protein was 26 mg/dL, sugar was 17 mg/dL, and his intracranial pressure was 23 cmH2O. The patient was diagnosed with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infection by serum Western blotting. Cr...

A 54-year-old man was admitted due to progressive gait disturbance and cognitive impairment. On MRI, a hyperintense region was observed in the periventricular white matter on FLAIR imaging, with Gd-enhancement in the choroid plexus and periventricular wall. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed marked abnormalities including a high white blood cell count (WBC, 360 cells/mm(3). 83% lympho...

OBJECTIVE The role of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of cryptococcal meningitis is unclear. We hypothesized that natural killer (NK) cell and monocyte responses show central nervous system (CNS) compartment-specific profiles, and are altered by antifungal therapy and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) during cryptococcal meningitis/HIV coinfection. DESIGN Substudy of a prospective...

Background.  Cryptococcal meningitis has a high mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons in Africa. This is preventable with early screening and preemptive therapy. We evaluated the prevalence of cryptococcal disease by antigen testing, possible associated factors, and outcomes in HIV-infected patients being managed in a tertiary hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods.  Ser...