Recombinant Interferon‐γ1b as Adjunctive Therapy for AIDS‐Related Acute Cryptococcal Meningitis

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans is one of the most common causes of central nervous system (CNS) infection among patients with HIV and is the most common cause of fungal meningitis worldwide [1, 2]. Although the incidence of cryptococcal meningitis has declined among patients with AIDS in the developed world, because of ready access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), acute cryptococcal disease as a presenting manifestation of HIV infection still occurs and can lead to significant morbidity, even with therapy [3, 4]. In the developing world, cryptococcosis continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality and ranks among the 3 most common opportunistic pathogens in HIV-positive patients. Despite advances in antifungal therapy, at least one-third of patients with cryptococcal meningitis who receive appropriate antifungal therapy will have mycologic and/or clinical failure, defined as persistently positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures, persistent clinical symptoms and signs, or death due to the infection [5, 6]. New therapeutic approaches could significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality of this potentially devastating infection.