[Cryptococcal neuromeningitis in immunosuppressed subjects at Rabat University Hospital (Morocco)]

Cryptococcus neoformans is responsible for severe mycosis particularly in immunosuppressed patients.

To describe the Moroccan cases of cryptococcal neuromeningitis.

We retrospectively studied over a 12 year period (1993-2005) the cases of cryptococcal neuromeningitis diagnosed at the University Hospital of Rabat. The identification of Cryptococcus neoformans was made on cerebrospinal fluid samples after direct examination with the Indian ink and culture on Sabouraud's medium without cycloheximide.

Nine immunosuppressed patients had a cryptococcal neuromeningitis (7 men and 2 women). The average age was 33 years. Eight patients were infected with HIV and one was treated with steroids. The cryptococcosis reevaluated the HIV infection in 5 cases and 3 patients were already at the AIDS stage. The treatment based on amphotericin B was only effective in 3 patients.

These data incite us to optimise diagnosis tools and therapeutic strategies for cryptococcal neuromeningitis in Morocco.