RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Determine the prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia and associated factors in HIV-infected patients in Cotonou in order to introduce systematic screening in national guidelines. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study conducted from June to September 2015 in four outpatient treatment centers with adult patients infected with HIV, receiving or not antiretroviral treatment with a number of CD4≤200cell/µL and who have given their informed consent to participate in the study. For each enrolled patient, after signing the informed consent form, it was made a clinical examination and administration of a questionnaire to collect general information, treatment and biological data. Then a blood sample for counting CD4 lymphocytes and the search of cryptococcal antigenemia were done. RESULTS: In total, 355 patients were included in the study with a mean age of 40±10.2years. The overall prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia is 1.7%. All patient with cryptococcal antigenemia have a CD4 count below 100cells/µL with a majority having CD4 count below 50cells/µL. Body mass index<18.5kg/m2, an alteration of the general condition with a CD4 lymphocyte counts<50cells/µL are the main factors associated with the occurrence of cryptococcal antigenemia. CONCLUSION: This pilot study showed a low prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia in the study population, but higher in highly immuno-deficient patients with CD4 counts<50cells/µl. Given the results obtained, the introduction of routine screening among patients infected with HIV could be reserved to those with CD4 counts<50cells/µl.