Criptococosis Estudio de catorce casos con diagnóstico comprobado por el laboratorio

Abstract

Fourteen clinical cases of meningitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans were studied and confirmed by means of different procedures in our laboratory over a period of four years. Positive results by direct examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were obtained in 75%: 67% were positive by cultures and 84.6% when both systems were performed simultaneously. When the latex agglutination test was performed to detect C. neoformans antigen, the test was positive in 100% of CSF and only 83.3% on serum. We were able to demostrate serum antibodies only en 43% of the patients using indirect immunofluorescence. Clinical and serological follow up of three patients and serological in one, allowed us to confirm the usefulness of latex agglutination test in the clinical management of cryptococcosis.