Abstract

RAMIREZ, Sergio et al. Cerebral cryptococcosis: description of a series of cases of atypical clinical presentation Hospital Universitario San José Infantil de Bogotá. Acta Neurol Colomb. [online]. 2015, vol.31, n.2, pp.158-166. ISSN 0120-8748.  https://doi.org/10.22379/2422402223.

Introduction: Cerebral Cryptococcosis (CC) is the most common CNS fungal infection, it is especially in patients with some type of immunodeficiency, but can also be found in immunocompetent, being more severe and with variable neurological manifestations in that cases. While the typical manifestations are the most frequently seeing, atypical manifestations especially in immunocompetent patients, may present in 60% of cases as radiological studies, so it is important to recognize in order to ensure early diagnosis and timely intervention. Objective: to describe the clinical characteristics of typical and atypical presentations of cerebral cryptococcosis in Hospital Universitario San José Infantil de Bogotá. Materials and methods: we report a series of cases between March 2013 and March 2014 at the Hospital Universitario San Jose Infantil. A total of 8 cases of cerebral cryptococcosis described. The diagnosis in all cases was done according to the histopathological findings or cultures. Results: in 8 patients described 6 were men (75%), most under 60 years ( = 13.25 = 42.25 years), 7 patients (87.5%) were immunosuppressed, of which 5 HIV-seropositive patients (62.5%). The main complaint was headache (87.5%). The clinical manifestations was more severe in HIV-seronegative patients. Several patients showed neuropsychiatric disorders. In 5 patients (62.5%) atypical manifestations were found: cryptococcoma brain in 25% (n = 2), ventriculitis in 12.5% (n = 1) and septic venous sinus thrombosis in 25% (n = 2). Conclusion: in our population CC was similar to those reported in other studies, where more than half had atypical manifestations especially HIV-seronegative. Additionally several neuropsychiatric manifestations were found. Physicians should consider neuropsychiatric changes and atypical presentations essentially in HIV-seronegative patients in order to make a quick diagnosis and initiate early treatment for CC.

Keywords : Cryptococcal meningitis; atypical presentations; immunodeficiency; immunocompetent.

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