Intramedullary abscess resulting from disseminated cryptococcosis despite immune restoration in a patient with AIDS

J Infect. 2002 Apr;44(3):185-8. doi: 10.1053/jinf.2001.0955.

Abstract

We report on a case of cryptococcal intramedullary abscess, which occurred three years after a disseminated cryptococcosis and two years after a lymph node cryptococcal recurrence in a HIV-infected patient who exhibited a long-standing immune restoration. At the time of diagnosis, CD4(+) lymphocyte-count was 640x10(6)/l and HIV viral load was undetectable. Spinal involvement is rare during cryptococcosis of the central nervous system. As far as we are aware, there is only one case of proven intramedullary cryptococcal abscess reported in the literature and this case is then the second one. The significant and sustained increase in CD4 count following effective antiretroviral therapy was probably associated with only a partial immune restitution that did not allow to avoid the occurrence of the cryptococcal medullar abscess. Finally, this case raises the question of when to stop secondary prophylaxis of cryptococcal disease after increase in CD4 cell count under antiretroviral therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / complications
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / immunology
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / microbiology*
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications*
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / immunology*
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / microbiology
  • Adult
  • Amphotericin B / therapeutic use
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain Abscess / complications*
  • Brain Abscess / drug therapy
  • Brain Abscess / immunology
  • Brain Abscess / microbiology*
  • Cryptococcosis / complications*
  • Cryptococcosis / drug therapy
  • Cryptococcosis / immunology
  • Cryptococcosis / microbiology*
  • Cryptococcus neoformans / isolation & purification
  • Fluconazole / therapeutic use
  • Flucytosine / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Amphotericin B
  • Fluconazole
  • Flucytosine