Two cases of cryptococcal meningitis, one treated with 5-fluorocytosine

Cryptococcal meningitis occurred in two patients in the North of England. One, an elderly woman who was ill for 12 months with an obscure indolent meningitis until use of steroid drugs resulted in an acute exacerbation during which cryptococci were isolated, was treated successfully with amphotericin B. The other, a student from New Guinea with subacute meningitis, could not tolerate amphotericin B but responded to two courses of oral treatment with 5-fluorocytosine 100-200 mg./kg./ day without any appreciable side-effects. Further trials of this drug in the treatment of cryptococcosis are recommended.