Outcomes in Previously Healthy Cryptococcal Meningoencephalitis Patients Treated With Pulse Taper Corticosteroids for Post-infectious Inflammatory Syndrome. (31st December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Anjum, Seher; Dean, Owen; Kosa, Peter; Magone, M Teresa; King, Kelly A; Fitzgibbon, Edmond; Kim, H Jeff; Zalewski, Chris; Murphy, Elizabeth; Billioux, Bridgette Jeanne; Chisholm, Jennifer; Brewer, Carmen C; Krieger, Chantal; Elsegeiny, Waleed; Scott, Terri L; Wang, Jing; Hunsberger, Sally; Bennett, John E; Nath, Avindra; Marr, Kieren A; Bielekova, Bibiana; Wendler, David; Hammoud, Dima A; Williamson, Peter
• Is Part Of: Clinical infectious diseases. Volume 73:Number 9(2021)
• Page Start: e2789
• Page End: e2798
• Publication Date: 2020-12-31
• Subjects: Cryptococcus -- meningitis -- healthy -- PIIRS -- corticosteroids; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; 616.905
• DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1901
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1058-4838

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CM) is a major cause of mortality in immunosuppressed patients and previously healthy individuals. In the latter, a post-infectious inflammatory response syndrome (PIIRS) is associated with poor clinical response despite antifungal therapy and negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures. Data on effective treatment are limited. Methods: Between March 2015 and March 2020, 15 consecutive previously healthy patients with CM and PIIRS were treated with adjunctive pulse corticosteroid taper therapy (PCT) consisting of intravenous methylprednisolone 1 gm daily for 1 week followed by oral prednisone 1 mg/kg/day, tapered based on clinical and radiological response plus oral fluconazole. Montreal cognitive assessments (MOCA), Karnofsky performance scores, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scanning, ophthalmic and audiologic exams, and CSF parameters including cellular and soluble immune responses were compared at PIIRS diagnosis and after methylprednisolone completion. Results: The median time from antifungal treatment to steroid initiation was 6 weeks. The most common symptoms at PIIRS diagnosis were altered mental status and vision changes. All patients demonstrated significant improvements in MOCA and Karnofsky scores at 1 month ( P < .0003), which was accompanied by improvements in CSF glucose, white blood cell (WBC) count, protein, cellular and soluble inflammatory markers 1 week after receiving corticosteroids (CS) ( P < .003). All patients with papilledema and visual field deficits also exhibited improvement ( P < .0005). Five out of 7 patients who underwent audiological testing demonstrated hearing improvement. Brain MRI showed significant improvement of radiological findings ( P = .001). CSF cultures remained negative. Conclusions: PCT in this small cohort of PIIRS was associated with improvements in CM-related complications with minimal toxicity in the acute setting. Abstract : This is a small case series describing functional outcomes in previously healthy cryptococcal meningitis patients treated with pulse corticosteroid taper therapy for postinfectious inflammatory syndrome (PIIRS).