Ocular manifestations of cryptococcus infection: results from 14 cases

Objective - The purpose of this study was to determine the nature of Crypto coccus neoforman ocular manifestations, the most frequent mycotic infection that affects AIDS patients. This study took place in Casablanca, Morocco. Methods - Fourteen patients (11 men and three women) with cryptococcal neur omeningitis and HIV were collected from patients at the Department of infec tious Diseases of the university hospital. All patients were examined by an ophthalmologist. The mean age was 32 years. Results - The reported ocular features were a bilateral papillary edema in eight cases (57%), chorioretinitis in two cases (14.3%), and posterior uvei tis in one case. The fungus was identified in the cerebrospinal fluid of al l patients after an Indian ink test. A systemic antifungal therapy gave the following results: complete recovery in one case and recurrence in five ca ses. Thirteen patients died. (C) 1999 Editions scientifiques et medicales E lsevier SAS.