Singh N, Lortholary O, Alexander BD, Gupta KL, John GT, Pursell KJ, Muñoz P, Klintmalm GB, Stosor V, Del Busto R, Limaye AP, Somani J, Lyon M, Houston S, House AA, Pruett TL, Orloff S, Humar A, Dowdy LA, Garcia-Diaz J, Kalil AC, Fisher RA, Heitman J, Husain S. Antifungal Management Practices and Evolution of Infection in Organ Transplant Recipients with Cryptococcus Neoformans Infection.
Transplantation 2005;
80:1033-9. [PMID:
16278582 DOI:
10.1097/01.tp.0000173774.74388.49]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Therapeutic practices for Cryptococcus neoformans infection in transplant recipients vary, particularly with regards to antifungal agent employed, and duration of therapy. The risk of relapse and time to recurrence is not known. We assessed antifungal treatment practices for cryptococcosis in a cohort of prospectively followed organ transplant recipients.
METHODS
The patients comprised 83 transplant recipients with cryptococcosis followed for a median of 2.1 and up to 5.2 years.
RESULTS
Patients with central nervous system infection (69% vs. 16%, P = 0.00001), disseminated infection (82.7% vs. 20%, P = 0.00001), and fungemia (29% vs. 8%, P = 0.046) were more likely to receive regimens containing amphotericin B than fluconazole as primary therapy. The use of fluconazole, on the other hand, was more likely for infection limited to the lungs (64% vs. 14%, P = 0.00002). Survival at 6 months tended to be lower in patients whose CSF cultures at 2 weeks were positive compared to those whose CSF cultures were negative (50% vs. 91%, P = 0.06). Maintenance therapy was employed in 68% (54/79) of the patients who survived >3 weeks. The median duration of maintenance therapy was 183 days; 55% received maintenance for > or = 6 months and 25% for >1 year. Relapse was documented in 1.3% (1/79) of the patients.
CONCLUSIONS
A majority of the organ transplant recipients with cryptococcosis receive maintenance antifungal therapy for 6 months with low risk of relapse. These data can assist in trials to assess the optimal therapeutic approach and duration of therapy for cryptococcosis in transplant recipients.
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