Cryptococcal meningitis in apparently immunocompetent patients

Abstract

Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is an invasive fungal disease that currently poses a threat to human health worldwide, with high morbidity and mortality, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Although CM mainly occurs in HIV-positive patients and other immunocompromised patients, it is also increasingly seen in seemingly immunocompetent hosts. The clinical characteristics of CM between immunocompromised and immunocompetent populations are different. However, few studies have focussed on CM in immunocompetent individuals. This review summarizes the clinical characteristics of apparently immunocompetent CM patients in terms of aetiology, immune pathogenesis, clinical presentation, laboratory data, imaging findings, treatment strategies and prognosis. It is of great significance to further understand the disease characteristics of CM, explore new treatment strategies and improve the prognosis of CM in immunocompetent individuals.

Keywords:

• Cryptococcal meningitis
• clinical characteristics
• immune pathogenesis
• treatment strategies
• prognosis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Health and Family Planning Commission of Sichuan province [grant number 21PJ030], and 1•3•5 project for disciplines of excellence-Clinical Research Incubation Project, West China Hospital, Sichuan University [grant number 2021HXFH032], [grant number 2018HXFH037].