학술논문

Use of Cerebrospinal Fluid (1,3)-β-d-Glucan to Monitor Treatment Response in Candida albicansMeningitis in an HIV-infected Patient
Document Type
Article
Source
Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice; November 2018, Vol. 26 Issue: 6 pe70-e72, 3p
Subject
Language
ISSN
10569103; 15369943
Abstract
Spontaneous Candida albicansmeningitis is rare in the setting of HIV infection and can be prolonged and difficult to treat. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture can be unreliable and slow in monitoring treatment response. The authors present a case in which CSF (1,3)-β-D-glucan was used successfully to monitor treatment response in a patient with HIV and chronic Candidameningitis, which may have implications for the diagnosis of future cases.Candidameningitis is rare in the setting of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and often presents a diagnostic challenge. Its clinical features typically mimic those of cryptococcal or tuberculous meningitis and Candidacan be difficult to culture from cerebrospinal fluid. Furthermore, optimal treatment and monitoring parameters are not well defined. Cerebrospinal fluid levels of (1,3)-β-d-glucan, which is a component of the fungal cell wall, have been used to diagnose and monitor response to therapy in other cases of fungal meningitis, but its utility in the setting of Candidameningitis and HIV infection is less clear. Here, we present a case of spontaneous Candida albicansmeningitis in a woman with advanced HIV infection and report on the clinical utility of cerebrospinal fluid (1,3)-β-d-glucan for diagnosis and monitoring of chronic infection.