Cryptococcal meningitis in Auckland 1969-89

Twenty-six patients with cryptococcal meningitis were seen in Auckland between 1969 and 1989. The incidence of cryptococcal meningitis in Auckland residents was 0.12 cases/100,000/year. Ten (38%) of the patients were Maori or Pacific Island Polynesians. Nineteen (73%) had a predisposing cause, including immunosuppressive therapy in nine and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in seven. The most common presenting syndrome was a subacute or chronic meningitis. Other clinical syndromes included a slowly progressive ataxia, polyradiculopathy, and headache with vomiting. In two patients, the symptoms of meningitis were overshadowed by those of systemic cryptococcal infection. Delay in making the diagnosis was common. The most sensitive method for diagnosing cryptococcal meningitis was the cerebrospinal fluid cryptococcal antigen test. Antifungal therapy cured 17 of the 25 (68%) treated patients overall, 15 of the 19 (79%) without AIDS and six of the seven with no underlying disease.