Dexamethasone in Cryptococcus gattii Central Nervous System Infection

Clinical outcomes were reviewed for 4 patients with Cryptococcus gattii central nervous system infection who received dexamethasone for the treatment of persisting mental status abnormalities and focal lesions on brain scan despite culture-negative cerebrospinal fluid and the management of intracran...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical infectious diseases 2009-08, Vol.49 (4), p.591-595
Main Authors: Phillips, Peter, Chapman, Kristine, Sharp, Madeleine, Harrison, Phil, Vortel, Jerry, Steiner, Theodore, Bowie, William
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use
Antifungals
Biological and medical sciences
Bones, joints and connective tissue. Antiinflammatory agents
Brief Reports
Central nervous system infections
Central Nervous System Infections - drug therapy
Central Nervous System Infections - microbiology
Cerebrospinal fluid
Clinical outcomes
Corticosteroids
Cryptococcal meningitis
Cryptococcosis - drug therapy
Cryptococcus
Cryptococcus - drug effects
Cryptococcus neoformans
Dexamethasone - therapeutic use
Female
Humans
Infections
Infectious diseases
Lesions
Male
Medical sciences
Medical treatment
Meningitis
Middle Aged
Nervous system
Neurological disorders
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:Clinical outcomes were reviewed for 4 patients with Cryptococcus gattii central nervous system infection who received dexamethasone for the treatment of persisting mental status abnormalities and focal lesions on brain scan despite culture-negative cerebrospinal fluid and the management of intracranial pressure. Favorable clinical responses were observed in 3 patients. Although corticosteroids are not recommended for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis, these observations suggest that dexamethasone should be further evaluated in this subset of patients.
ISSN:1058-4838
1537-6591
DOI:10.1086/603554