Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical features,treatment and prognosis of the immunocompetent patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis, so as to provide references for clinical practice.
METHODS The clinical data of 63 cases of immunocompetent patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis from Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical features,imaging,treatment and prognosis were analyzed.
RESULTS Totally 32 patients had no clinical symptoms, and among the rest 31 patients, the major clinical symptoms included cough,expectoration and fever. The positive rate of pathology of the CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy was 91.30% (21/23), and that of the fiber bronchoscope with transbronchial lung biopsy was 57.69%(15/26). The positive rate of the latex cryptococcal antigen agglutination tests reached 93.44%. The imaging of immunocompetent patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis was various. Most common incidental signs were air bronchogram(31.03%), followed by speculation(24.14%)and cavity(18.97%). The inflammation markers(C-reactive protein(CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR)) of the patients were mostly common(84.48% and 87.76%). Among the 47 patients who had completed the treatment, 30 patients were effective in the treatment of fluconazole, 1 patient was effective in the treatment of itraconazole, 6 patients were effective in the treatment of voriconazole and 10 patients were effective in the treatment of amphotericin B or amphotericin B liposome. Totally 31 patients got recovery and 16 patients got improved. Totally 18 patients used daily dose of 0.4g from beginning to end among the 30 patients who used fluconazole effectively. A total of 5 patients had renal impairment among the 10 patients who used amphotericin B or amphotericin B liposome.
CONCLUSION The triazole antifungals are always effective to immunocompetent patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis. Amphotericin B or amphotericin B liposome can be used while triazoles are resistant. The prognosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis is always favorable.