Volume 7, Number 3—June 2001
Synopsis
Cryptococcus neoformans Infection in Organ Transplant Recipients: Variables Influencing Clinical Characteristics and Outcome
Shahid Husain, Marilyn M. Wagener, and Nina Singh
Table 4
Variables associated with death in patients with central nervous system Cryptococcus neoformans infection
| Variable (no. of patients for whom data available) | Death (%) | Survival (%) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (mean) | 40.6 yrs | 42.4 yrs | NSa |
| Fever (29) | 34 (10/29) | 66 (10/29) | NS |
| No fever (7) | 43 (3/7) | 57 (4/7) | |
| Headache (20) | 25 (5/20) | 75 (15/20) | NS (.09) |
| No headache (21) | 52 (11/21) | 48 (10/21) | |
| Abnormal mental status (20) | 55 (11/20) | 45 (9/20) | NS |
| Normal mental status (26) | 31 (8/26) | 69 (18/26) | |
| White blood cell >20/mm3 (20) | 40 (8/20) | 60 (12/20) | NS |
| White blood cell <20/mm3 (13) | 62 (8/13) | 38 (5/13) | |
| Cryptococcal antigen titer >1,024 (10) | 20 (2/10) | 80 (8/10) | NS |
| Cryptococcal antigen titer <1,024 (17) | 35 (6/17) | 65 (11/17) | |
| Positive blood culture (8) | 13 (1/8) | 87 (7/8) | NS |
| Negative blood culture (16) | 50 (8/16) | 50 (8/16) | |
| Renal failure (22) | 54 (12/22) | 46 (10/22) | .011 |
| No renal failure (12) | 8 (1/12) | 92 (11/12) | |
| Therapy | NS | ||
| AmBb alone (55) | 47 (26/55) | 53 (29/55) | |
| AmB + 5 FCc (32) | 50 (16/32) | 50 (16/32) | |
| Fluconazole (5) | 40 (2/5) | 60 (3/5) |
aNS = not significant, p >0.05.
bAmB = Amphotericin B deoxycholate.
cFC = flucytosine.
