CRYPTOCOCCAL MENINGITIS PRESENTING CONCURRENTLY WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

Cryptococcal meningitis is a rare but well recognized complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Since in all previously reported c ases in the medical literature the patients developed this opportunist ic infection as the result of immunosuppressive therapies, whether the intrinsic immunological abnormalities of SLE per se contribute to the susceptibility remains controversial. We report on a patient who pres ented concurrently with cryptococcal meningitis and cryptococcaemia at the time of her diagnosis of active SLE. This highlights the possibil ity that intrinsic immunological defects of SLE may be directly respon sible for the predisposition to fungal infections. In addition, when S LE patients present with neurological symptoms, the possible presence of central nervous system (CNS) infection must be checked for even inm unosuppressive treatment is not being considered.