Table 1.
Characteristics of patients of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis
| Characteristic | Recovered [no. (%)] see | Dead [no. (%)] | Lost# [no. (%)] | Total | p # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 49(45.37) | 45(41.67) | 14(12.96) | 108 | NS |
| 0-10 | 2(1.85) | 1(0.93) | 2(1.85) | 5 | |
| 11-20 | 7(6.48) | 6(5.56) | 2(1.85) | 15 | |
| 21-30 | 6(5.56) | 9(8.33) | 4(3.70) | 19 | |
| 31-40 | 13(12.04) | 10(9.26) | 2(1.85) | 25 | |
| 41-50 | 8(7.41) | 8(7.41) | 2(1.85) | 18 | |
| 51-60 | 10(9.26) | 3(2.78) | 1(0.93) | 14 | |
| 61-70 | 2(1.85) | 3(2.78) | 1(0.93) | 6 | |
| 71-80 | 1(0.93) | 4(3.70) | 0(0) | 5 | |
| 81- | 0(0) | 1(0.93) | 0(0) | 1 | |
| Gender | 49(45.37) | 45(41.67) | 14(12.96) | 108 | NS |
| Male | 36(33.33) | 30(27.78) | 11(10.19) | 77 | |
| Female | 13(12.04) | 15(13.89) | 3(2.78) | 31 | |
| Time interval from illness onset to hospitalization (days) | 49(45.37) | 45(41.67) | 14(12.96) | 108 | NS |
| 1-10 | 9(8.33) | 6(5.56) | 1(0.93) | 15 | |
| 11-20 | 10(9.26) | 13(12.04) | 3(2.78) | 25 | |
| 21-30 | 13(12.04) | 18(16.67) | 5(4.63) | 36 | |
| 31- | 17(15.74) | 8(7.41) | 5(4.63) | 29 | |
| Underlying disease * | 22(20.37) | 21(19.44) | 4(3.70) | 47 | NS |
| Exposure history | 2(1.85) | 3(2.78) | 0(0) | 5 | NS |
| Brain tissue damaged ** | 9(8.33) | 18(16.67) | 4(3.70) | 31 | 0.021 |
| Laboratory findings | |||||
| High intracranial pressure | 43(39.81) | 35(32.41) | 13(12.04) | 91 | NS |
| Increased CSF protein | 38(35.19) | 31(28.70) | 10(9.26) | 79 | NS |
| Decreased CSF glucose | 26(24.07) | 29(26.85) | 9(8.33) | 64 | NS |
| Abnormal EEG *** | 16(42.11) | 9(23.68) | 2(5.26) | 27 | NS |
| Abnormal MRI **** | 20(41.67) | 10(20.83) | 4(8.33) | 34 | NS |
*Underlying diseases included use of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants 19 cases, SLE 8 cases, Tuberculosis 6 cases (1 with CNS infection and 5 with lung infection), hematopathy 5 cases (2 with ITP, 1 with leukemia, 1 with NHL and 1 with AIHA), DM 5 cases, kidney diseases 4 cases (2 with renal failure, 1 with nephrotic syndrome and 1 with RPGN), HIV 2 cases, organ (renal) transplantation 1 case, cancer (nasopharyngeal carcinoma) 1 case, hyperthyroidism 1 case, pregnant 1 case, hepatitis B 1 case and mycotic infection 1 case.
**Brain tissue damage included altered consciousness 17 cases, seizures 6 cases, cerebellum symptoms 6 cases and mental disorders 4 cases. (Several cases with more than one symptom).
***Abnormal EEG included normal background 20 cases (1 with epileptiform discharge and 19 with focal slow wave) and diffused slow wave in the background 7 cases.
****Abnormal MRI included Bubble sign 9 cases (6 at the basal ganglion and 3 at subcortex), hydrocephalus 16 cases, abnormal lesions 16 cases (8 cases with hemilateral lesions, 8 cases with bilateral lesions) and ischemic lesions 3 cases (2 with ischemic lesion and 1 with transient ischemic attack) (most cases with more than one abnormal features).
#NS, not significant (p > 0.05).