[Cryptococcosis of the central nervous system]

The steps for diagnosis and treatment and the clinical course followed in three patients with Cryptococcus meningitidis are discussed. One of them was treated with 5-flurocytosine alone. Two consecutive patients were treated with a combination of 5-flurocytosine and amphotericin B. The objectives of the study were: a) to achieve a therapeutic response better than that which might be obtained with either drug alone, b) to use lower doses of 5-fluorocytosine and amphotericin B in order to reduce toxicity, c) to extend treatment only for a period of four weeks, thus decreasing the period of hospitalization. None of the patients has relapsed. A shorter time of hospitalization and reduction in toxicity, suggests that combined therapy is a safe and effective alternative to other regimens.