Cryptococcus myelitis: atypical presentation of a common infection

Clin Infect Dis. 2001 Apr 15;32(8):1235-6. doi: 10.1086/319749. Epub 2001 Mar 28.

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans is associated with as much as 45% of meningitis in patients admitted for hospital care in Zimbabwe, and it is an important opportunistic infection in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Cases of cryptococcosis presenting as a spinal cord syndrome have been reported from Zimbabwe and South Africa, but these were all cases of Cryptococcus vertebral osteomyelitis. We describe 3 unusual patients who presented with a myelitis-like syndrome without vertebral osteomyelitis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / physiopathology*
  • Adult
  • Cryptococcosis / drug therapy
  • Cryptococcosis / physiopathology*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myelitis / drug therapy
  • Myelitis / physiopathology*
  • Syndrome