Unexpected case of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis in a patient with long-standing well-controlled HIV infection

Abstract

Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CM) classically occurs in individuals with advanced HIV infection, solid organ transplants, or other immunocompromising conditions. We report a case of fatal CM in a 78-year-old woman with well-controlled HIV infection who had delayed diagnosis, persistently elevated intracranial pressure and pleocytosis of the cerebrospinal fluid. Initial suspicion for CM was low due to her relatively high CD4+ T cell counts, which likely contributed to greater inflammation.

Keywords

• Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis
• Cryptococcosis
• HIV infection
• Inflammatory response
• Host immunity