Table 1.
Distinguishing clinical features, CSF and radiological findings in immunocompromised and apparently healthy patients.
| Clinical features | HIV positive/transplant recipients/on chemotherapy | HIV negative, apparently healthy |
|---|---|---|
| Symptoms | ||
| Altered mental status | + | + |
| Fever | ++ | + |
| Headache | + | + |
| Auditory/visual problems | + | ++ |
| Cranial neuropathies | + | + |
| Time from symptom development to diagnosis | ~ 1 month | ~ 1–3 months |
| Neurological complications (neurocognitive deficits, spinal arachnoiditis) | + | ++ |
| Pulmonary involvement | + | + |
| CSF analysis | ||
| Opening pressure | ++ | + |
| CSF pleocytosis | + | ++ |
| Elevated protein | + | ++ |
| Hypoglycorrhachia | + | ++ |
| Higher cryptococcal antigen titers | ++ | + |
| Positive CSF fungal culture | ++ | + |
| Positive fungal blood culture | ++ | + |
| MRI brain findings | ||
| Meningeal enhancement | + | + |
| Hydrocephalus | + | + |
| Cryptococcomas | + | + |
| Ependymitis | + | ++ |
| Choroid plexitis | + | ++ |
| Ischemic infarcts | + | ++ |
(+): present (++): occurs more frequently compared to the other category