Cryptoccocal meningitis and HIV in the era of HAART in Côte d'Ivoire.

OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim to describe the management of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV infected adults, in Ivory Coast.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was made from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2008 on the files of consecutive hospitalized patients presenting with cryptococcal meningitis, at the Treichville University Hospital, Infectious and tropical diseases department (Abidjan). The socio-demographic, clinical, and biological aspects as well as the outcome were analyzed.

RESULTS: Eighty patients presenting with cryptococcal meningitis, (2.6% of hospitalized patients) were included: 41 men (51.25%) and 39 women (48.75%); mean age: 40 years (range 26 to 58 years). The delay before consultation was 5.4 days, range 2-12 days). The mains symptoms were headache (83.7%), fever (63.7%), and consciousness disorders (60%). Meningo-encephalitis accounted for 75% of the clinical presentations; 54 patients (67.5%) were naive of antiretroviral treatment (mean CD4: 45/mm(3) (range 5-103/mm(3)), while 26 (32.5%) had received antiretrovirals before presenting with cryptococcal meningitis (Nadir CD4=81/mm(3)). Amphotericin B relayed by fluconazole was prescribed to 86.2% of the patients, associated with a therapeutic lumbar puncture for 30 patients. The death rate was 41.2%.

CONCLUSION: In spite of antiretroviral treatment availability in Ivory Coast, cryptococcal meningitis remains frequent with a high death rate. This study stresses the importance of early management to improve the prognosis.