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      New Insights into HIV/AIDS-Associated Cryptococcosis

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      ISRN AIDS
      Hindawi Publishing Corporation

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          Abstract

          Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic fungal infection in both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients. According to the most recent taxonomy, the responsible fungus is classified into a complex that contains two species ( Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii), with eight major molecular types. HIV infection is recognized worldwide as the main underlying disease responsible for the development of cryptococcal meningitis (accounting for 80–90% of cases). In several areas of sub-Saharan Africa with the highest HIV prevalence despite the recent expansion of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy programme, cryptococcal meningitis is the leading cause of community-acquired meningitis with a high mortality burden. Although cryptococcal meningitis should be considered a neglected disease, a large body of knowledge has been developed by several studies performed in recent years. This paper will focus especially on new clinical aspects such as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, advances on management, and strategies for the prevention of clinical disease.

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          Most cited references239

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          Clinical practice guidelines for the management of cryptococcal disease: 2010 update by the infectious diseases society of america.

          Cryptococcosis is a global invasive mycosis associated with significant morbidity and mortality. These guidelines for its management have been built on the previous Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines from 2000 and include new sections. There is a discussion of the management of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis in 3 risk groups: (1) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals, (2) organ transplant recipients, and (3) non-HIV-infected and nontransplant hosts. There are specific recommendations for other unique risk populations, such as children, pregnant women, persons in resource-limited environments, and those with Cryptococcus gattii infection. Recommendations for management also include other sites of infection, including strategies for pulmonary cryptococcosis. Emphasis has been placed on potential complications in management of cryptococcal infection, including increased intracranial pressure, immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), drug resistance, and cryptococcomas. Three key management principles have been articulated: (1) induction therapy for meningoencephalitis using fungicidal regimens, such as a polyene and flucytosine, followed by suppressive regimens using fluconazole; (2) importance of early recognition and treatment of increased intracranial pressure and/or IRIS; and (3) the use of lipid formulations of amphotericin B regimens in patients with renal impairment. Cryptococcosis remains a challenging management issue, with little new drug development or recent definitive studies. However, if the diagnosis is made early, if clinicians adhere to the basic principles of these guidelines, and if the underlying disease is controlled, then cryptococcosis can be managed successfully in the vast majority of patients.
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            Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in patients starting antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

            In patients with HIV-1 infection who are starting combination antiretroviral therapy (ART), the incidence of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is not well defined. We did a meta-analysis to establish the incidence and lethality of the syndrome in patients with a range of previously diagnosed opportunistic infections, and examined the relation between occurrence and the degree of immunodeficiency. Systematic review identified 54 cohort studies of 13 103 patients starting ART, of whom 1699 developed IRIS. We calculated pooled cumulative incidences with 95% credibility intervals (CrI) by Bayesian methods and did a random-effects metaregression to analyse the relation between CD4 cell count and incidence of IRIS. In patients with previously diagnosed AIDS-defining illnesses, IRIS developed in 37.7% (95% CrI 26.6-49.4) of those with cytomegalovirus retinitis, 19.5% (6.7-44.8) of those with cryptococcal meningitis, 15.7% (9.7-24.5) of those with tuberculosis, 16.7% (2.3-50.7) of those with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, and 6.4% (1.2-24.7) of those with Kaposi's sarcoma, and 12.2% (6.8-19.6) of those with herpes zoster. 16.1% (11.1-22.9) of unselected patients starting ART developed any type of IRIS. 4.5% (2.1-8.6) of patients with any type of IRIS died, 3.2% (0.7-9.2) of those with tuberculosis-associated IRIS died, and 20.8% (5.0-52.7) of those with cryptococcal meningitis died. Metaregression analyses showed that the risk of IRIS is associated with CD4 cell count at the start of ART, with a high risk in patients with fewer than 50 cells per microL. Occurrence of IRIS might therefore be reduced by initiation of ART before immunodeficiency becomes advanced. 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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              Cryptococcosis in human immunodeficiency virus-negative patients in the era of effective azole therapy.

              We conducted a case study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative patients with cryptococcosis at 15 United States medical centers from 1990 through 1996 to understand the demographics, therapeutic approach, and factors associated with poor prognosis in this population. Of 306 patients with cryptococcosis, there were 109 with pulmonary involvement, 157 with central nervous system (CNS) involvement, and 40 with involvement at other sites. Seventy-nine percent had a significant underlying condition. Patients with pulmonary disease were usually treated initially with fluconazole (63%); patients with CNS disease generally received amphotericin B (92%). Fluconazole was administered to approximately two-thirds of patients with CNS disease for consolidation therapy. Therapy was successful for 74% of patients. Significant predictors of mortality in multivariate analysis included age > or =60 years, hematologic malignancy, and organ failure. Overall mortality was 30%, and mortality attributable to cryptococcosis was 12%. Cryptococcosis continues to be an important infection in HIV-negative patients and is associated with substantial overall and cause-specific mortality.
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                Author and article information

                Journal
                ISRN AIDS
                ISRN AIDS
                ISRN.AIDS
                ISRN AIDS
                Hindawi Publishing Corporation
                2090-939X
                2013
                25 February 2013
                : 2013
                : 471363
                Affiliations
                Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Lvigi Sacco, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via GB Grassi 74, 20157 Milano, Italy
                Author notes

                Academic Editors: C. A. Hughes and B. Joos

                Article
                10.1155/2013/471363
                3767198
                24052889
                060ad104-0034-439c-aef5-5fe8ce61e2c6
                Copyright © 2013 Spinello Antinori.

                This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

                History
                : 13 December 2012
                : 10 January 2013
                Categories
                Review Article

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