Cryptococcal Antigen Clears Slowly from Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid

Most individuals with cryptococcal meningitis without HIV infection still had detectable antigen in serum and cerebrospinal fluid after 1 year of therapy.

Measuring cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is useful for diagnosing cryptococcal meningitis (CM), but its role in monitoring outcomes is less clear. In people with HIV infection, CrAg persists but has little prognostic significance (HIV Clin Trials 2000; 1:1). What about those without HIV infection — or those with CM caused by different cryptococcal species (e.g., Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii)?

To explore these issues, NIH investigators examined results from a prior study of CM that enrolled participants without HIV infection between March 2006 and February 2021.

After 1 year of therapy, serum CrAg was still positive in 86% of 44 patients while CSF CrAg was positive in 67% of 31 patients. Time for ti…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Cryptococcal Antigen Clears Slowly from Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid

Topics

Reviewing Author