PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of acute respiratory failure (ARF) in non-AIDS patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. SUBJECTS: All patients in whom PC without HIV infection was diagnosed between February 1989 and March 1999. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients with PC were identified, and 11 of those patients (33%) developed ARF and comprised the study group. Underlying diseases included solid-organ transplant recipients (seven patients; 64%) and other underlying medical conditions (four patients; 36%). The most common symptoms were cough, shortness of breath, and temperature elevation. Extrapulmonary involvement was seen in six patients (meningitis, four patients; peritonitis, one patient; laryngeal mass, one patient). Six of the 11 patients (55%) died. CONCLUSION: ARF may develop in one third of non-AIDS patients with PC. This clinical syndrome is associated with the dissemination to extrapulmonary sites and high mortality rates. PC should be recognized as a possible cause of respiratory failure in non-AIDS patients.
PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of acute respiratory failure (ARF) in non-AIDSpatients with pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC). DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. SUBJECTS: All patients in whom PC without HIV infection was diagnosed between February 1989 and March 1999. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients with PC were identified, and 11 of those patients (33%) developed ARF and comprised the study group. Underlying diseases included solid-organ transplant recipients (seven patients; 64%) and other underlying medical conditions (four patients; 36%). The most common symptoms were cough, shortness of breath, and temperature elevation. Extrapulmonary involvement was seen in six patients (meningitis, four patients; peritonitis, one patient; laryngeal mass, one patient). Six of the 11 patients (55%) died. CONCLUSION:ARF may develop in one third of non-AIDSpatients with PC. This clinical syndrome is associated with the dissemination to extrapulmonary sites and high mortality rates. PC should be recognized as a possible cause of respiratory failure in non-AIDSpatients.
Authors: J W Baddley; J R Perfect; R A Oster; R A Larsen; G A Pankey; H Henderson; D W Haas; C A Kauffman; R Patel; A K Zaas; P G Pappas Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2008-05-01 Impact factor: 3.267
Authors: John R Perfect; William E Dismukes; Francoise Dromer; David L Goldman; John R Graybill; Richard J Hamill; Thomas S Harrison; Robert A Larsen; Olivier Lortholary; Minh-Hong Nguyen; Peter G Pappas; William G Powderly; Nina Singh; Jack D Sobel; Tania C Sorrell Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2010-02-01 Impact factor: 9.079