Table 1

Historical, examination, and laboratory findings in patients with cryptococcal meningitis.


Cryptococcal meningitis (n = 40)
Other (n = 109)
P

Age (median, range)
41 (14–65)
37 (13–64)
NS
Female sex
45% (18)
45% (49)
NS
History



Subjective fever
83% (33)
62% (68)
NS
Subjective wt loss
65% (26)
53% (58)
NS
Confusion
73% (29)
45% (49)
0.003
Vomiting
48% (19)
31% (34)
NS
Social withdrawal
43%(17)
18% (20)
0.004
Seizures
35% (14)
19% (21)
0.05
On antiretroviral therapy
18% (7)
24% (26)
NS
Physical examination



Febrile (T >38.0°C)
73% (29)
47% (51)
0.006
Hypertensive (>140/90 mm Hg)
18% (7)
14% (15)
NS
Tachycardia
60% (24)
39% (42)
0.03
Meningismus
43% (18)
23% (28)
0.02
Oral thrush
48% (19)
24% (26)
0.008
Temporal wasting
50% (20)
35% (38)
NS
Abnormal GCS (≤ 14)
73% (29)
29% (32)
<0.0001
Coma (GCS ≤ 8)
50% (20)
16% (17)
<0.0001
Median GCS
8.5
15
<0.0001
Laboratory



Leukocytes × 103/μl (median)
6.4 ± 7.1 (5.4)
6.1 ± 5.6 (6)*
NS
Lymphocytes × 103/μl (median)
2.0 ± 1.3 (1.7)
1.9 ± 1.2 (2.0)
NS
CD4 count/μl (median)
49.5 ± 45.2 (39)
190.0 ± 216.4 (89)
<0.0001
CD4 < 100/μl
93% (37)
51% (56)
<0.0001
Haemoglobin g/dl (median)
23.2 ± 29.1 (11.1)
17.9 ± 20.6 (12)*
NS
Platelets × 103/μl (median)
161 ± 88 (141)
179 ± 104 (163)
NS
ESR (median)
87 ± 40 (93)
74 ± 39 (75)
NS
CSF†



Pleocytosis % > 2/μl (n)
50% (20)
38% (41)
NS
Leukocytes (#/μl)†
63 ± 90
14 ± 23
0.03
Lymphocytes‡ (%)
53 ± 40
37 ± 34
NS
Neutrophils‡ (%)
47 ± 40
60 ± 34
NS
CSF protein (g/L)†
1.2 ± 2.3
0.7 ± 0.7
NS
CSF glucose (mmol/L)†
2.4 ± 1.3
3.0 ± 1.2
NS
CSF opening pressure (mmHg)
14.2 ± 10.6
9.8 ± 8.6
0.02
Outcome



Survival to discharge
50% (20)
80% (87)
0.0008

Data shown are mean ± SD unless otherwise specified.

* no haemoglobin or leukocyte data from 1 other patient

† CSF cell counts, protein, glucose, and opening pressure results compare CM and only those other patients with meningitis, defined as CSF pleocytosis > 2/ml.

‡ CSF differential data available only from 12 CM and 11 non-CM patients.

Kisenge et al. BMC Infectious Diseases 2007 7:39   doi:10.1186/1471-2334-7-39