Case report: chronic relapsing cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with low mannose-binding lectin and a low naïve CD4 cell count

Alex Wagemakers, Cornelis Willem Ang, Ferry Hagen, Joost Cornelis Johannes Bot, Marije Kristianne Bomers, Marieke Christine Visser, Karin van Dijk

Onderzoeksoutput: Bijdrage aan wetenschappelijk tijdschrift/periodieke uitgaveArtikelWetenschappelijkpeer review

4 Citaten (Scopus)

Samenvatting

BACKGROUND: Cryptococcal meningitis is most commonly found in HIV-infected patients. In HIV-negative patients, its low incidence can lead to prolonged time to diagnosis. Detailed case reports of chronic cryptococcal meningitis are scarce, but could provide clues for earlier diagnosis in this patient category.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year old man presented June 2015 with intermittent headaches for several months without any fever. Initial work-up showed a leukocytosis, raised CSF opening pressure and raised leukocytes and protein in the CSF. An MRI revealed leptomeningeal contrast enhancement and cerebellar oedema. While malignancy and various infectious causes were excluded, the patient had a spontaneous clinical and radiological recovery. One year later, the patient returned with complaints of headaches. Also, cerebellar oedema and leptomeningeal contrast enhancement had recurred. Eventually in March 2017, the novel cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay (CrAg LFA) was positive on CSF, and one colony of Cryptococcus neoformans was cultured from CSF. The patient was treated with the standard antifungal regimen which resulted in resolution of his headaches. In retrospect, the cryptococcal antigen test was already positive on a serum sample from June 2015. Interestingly, post-treatment immunological analysis revealed both a low mannose-binding lectin (MBL) concentration and low naïve CD4 counts.

CONCLUSIONS: We present a patient with cryptococcal meningitis in an HIV-negative patient with low MBL and low naïve CD4 count suffering a chronic relapsing meningo-encephalitis with relatively mild symptoms for around 2 years. In patients with an unexplained meningo-encephalitis such as this case, early performance of CrAg LFA on serum and/or CSF is an inexpensive and rapid method to reduce time-to diagnosis.

Originele taal-2Engels
Pagina's (van-tot)846
TijdschriftBMC Infectious Diseases
Volume19
Nummer van het tijdschrift1
DOI's
StatusGepubliceerd - 15 okt. 2019

Vingerafdruk

Duik in de onderzoeksthema's van 'Case report: chronic relapsing cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with low mannose-binding lectin and a low naïve CD4 cell count'. Samen vormen ze een unieke vingerafdruk.

Citeer dit