[Cryptococcal chorioretinitis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: apropos of a case]

A patient with acquired immune deficiency and antecedents of pancreatitis presented with headaches, fever, dyspnea and bilateral decrease of vision. A diagnosis of disseminated cryptococcosis was made by lumbar puncture, alveolar washing and elevated cryptococcal antigen in blood, urine and stool. Bilateral chorioretinitis with ischaemic maculopathy was responsible of the low vision and attributed to cryptococcal infection after vitreous puncture and isolation of yeast from the vitreous. Systemic treatment with Amphotericin led to resolution of the chorioretinitis. A retinitis due to cytomegalovirus was associated short time before the patient died. Post-mortem anatomopathologic analysis revealed cryptococcus in high number in the choriocapillaris.