Pulmonary Cryptococcosis and Its Clinical Feature Analysis / 中华医院感染学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE To explore the clinical features for pulmonary cryptococcosis due to Cryptococcus neoformans,and to improve diagnosis and treatment of the disease.METHODS The clinical features of inpatients with pulmonary cryptococcosis were studied retrospectively.RESULTS There were nine cases of pulmonary cryptococcosis from 1999 to 2006 of all inpatients in our hospital.Mals 5(56%),females 4(44%),and 3 cases(33%) were more than 60 years old.Three cases(33%) were immunocompromised hosts,6 cases(67%) had clinical symptoms.Chest X-ray and computed tomography were various included single or poly patching or nodule shadows,some had cavity(33%) and some had pleural effusions(22%).Six cases had positive results with serum cryptococcal antigen test.All nine patients were treated with fluconazole and improved or cured.CONCLUSIONS Pulmonary cryptococcosis is seldom seen in clinic,it can be observed in humans with normal immune responses or immunocompromised hosts and has no significant clinic manifestations,serum cryptococcal antigen test is helpful,definitive diagnosis needs early lung biopsy.The therapeutic effect is well.