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Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) associated with Cryptococcus neoformans infection in AIDS patients
Author(s) -
da Cunha Colombo Eduardo Rodrigues,
Mora Delio José,
SilvaVergara Mario León
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
mycoses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1439-0507
pISSN - 0933-7407
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2010.01870.x
Subject(s) - immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome , cryptococcosis , medicine , asymptomatic , cryptococcus neoformans , lumbar puncture , meningitis , immunology , cerebrospinal fluid , gastroenterology , surgery , antiretroviral therapy , viral load , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , biology , genetics
Summary Cryptococcosis is frequently associated to the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in AIDS patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This study aimed to evaluate clinical and evolutive features of IRIS associated cryptococcosis patients in Uberaba, Brazil. Patients: Eighty‐one AIDS individuals admitted at the teaching hospital with cryptococcal meningitis were evaluated and from these, 40 were prospectively followed. Of 40 patients with cryptococcosis, nine (22.5%) presented clinical and laboratory features of IRIS. Six (66.6%) were male, with a mean age of 37.2. Five (55.5%) presented cryptococcosis as first AIDS defining condition. In seven (77.9%) IRIS was characterised as a relapse of meningeal symptoms after 10 weeks, mean time of 72 days, of starting HAART whereas, two asymptomatic patients developed the syndrome as an unmasked cryptococcosis after 10 and 12 weeks on HAART. Lymphadenitis as isolated finding associated with IRIS was evidenced in three cases. All patients presented low CD4 + and high RNA viral load baseline values. Cultures of cerebrospinal fluid and lymph‐node fragments tissues of these cases were negative. Six of nine individuals developed high intracranial pressure requiring a daily relief lumbar puncture. No deaths occurred during the evolution of these patients. The incidence and clinical evolutive profile observed in this case series are in accordance with other reports elsewhere.