[Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis in a HIV negative miliary tuberculosis-suspected patient]

Cryptococcosis caused by Cryptococcus neoformans has a wide range of clinical presentations, varying from asymptomatic colonization of the respiratory airways to the dissemination of infection into different parts of body. It is more common among immunosupressed patients such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive ones. In this report we present a case with C. neoformans meningitis and miliary pulmonary infiltrates suggesting pulmonary tuberculosis without HIV infection. A-70-years-old male was admitted to the hospital with mental confusion, 3-weeks history of headache, weight loss, dry cough and fatigue. Physical examination was normal except neck stiffness. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) white cell count was 120/mm3 (80% polimorphonuclear cells). Gram staining of CSF revealed poorly stained gram-positive yeast cells. Empirical therapy with lipozomal amphotericin B, ceftriaxone and ampicillin combination was started. When C. neoformans growth was detected on CSF culture, ceftriaxone and ampicillin were discontinued. Patient became conscious at 24th hour of the treatment. Peripheric blood flow-cytometric analysis revealed a significant decrease in absolute CD4+ T lymphocytes, and in CD8+28+ T lymphocytes in addition a significant increase in natural killer cell ratio. Blood immunoglobulin and complement levels were found normal. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomogralphy (CT) of the abdomen were normal, however, chest CT revealed multiple parenchymal millimetric nodular infiltrations on both sides and minimal fibrotic alterations. Acid-fast staining of CSF, tuberculosis culture, tuberculosis PCR results and repeated HIV serology were found negative. Despite the lack of microbiological confirmation, empirical antituberculosis treatment was also started with the suspicion of miliary tuberculosis as the patient had a symptom of long-term dry cough, miliary infiltrations on chest CT, anergic tuberculin skin test and a history of pulmonary tuberculosis in childhood. After two weeks, amphotericin B was changed to oral fluconazole which was continued for an additional eight weeks. Antituberculosis therapy was given for nine months. Control chest CT taken after four months of antituberculosis therapy revealed improvement of the lesions. This presentation emphasizes the fact that cryptococcal infections may develop in HIV negative patients, even together with tuberculosis in certain cases and radiological findings of the two infections may be confusing when both of them invade the lungs.