Spinal Arachnoiditis as a Complication of Cryptococcal Meningoencephalitis in Non-HIV Previously Healthy Adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Cryptococcus can cause meningoencephalitis (CM) among previously healthy non-HIV adults. Spinal arachnoiditis is under-recognized, since diagnosis is difficult with concomitant central nervous system (CNS) pathology.

Methods

We describe 6 cases of spinal arachnoiditis among 26 consecutively recruited CM patients with normal CD4 counts who achieved microbiologic control. We performed detailed neurological exams, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) immunophenotyping and biomarker analysis before and after adjunctive immunomodulatory intervention with high dose pulse corticosteroids, affording causal inference into pathophysiology.

Results

All 6 exhibited severe lower motor neuron involvement in addition to cognitive changes and gait disturbances from meningoencephaliti

SUBMITTER: Panackal AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5241780 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature