Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To analyze the clinical characteristics of 57 pulmonary cryptococcosis patients with normal immune function.
METHODS A total of 57 pulmonary cryptococcosis patients with normal immune function who were treated in Nanjing Chest Hospital Affiliated to Southeast University from Jan 2012 to Dec 2019 were enrolled in the study. The clinical data, laboratory test indexes, imaging findings and treatment and diagnosis processes were retrospectively analyzed.
RESULTS The age of the pulmonary cryptococcosis patients ranged between 21 and 75 years old, the ratio of males to females was 1.85∶1. There were 15 cases with left lung infection, 21 cases with right lung infection and 21 cases of both lungs infection( 3 of whom were complicated with meningitis, 1 was complicated with bloodstream infection). The clinical data showed that 22 cases were found through physical examination, and 25 cases of cough were reported, including 5 cases of cough complicated with chest pain, 6 cases of fever, 2 cases of dizziness, vomiting and headache, 1 case of phlegm and blood and 1 case of asthma. Cryptococcus polysaccharide capsule antigen latex agglutination(LA) test was carried out for the 43 patients and showed that 30 were tested positive, and 13 were tested negative. Totally 37 patients were diagnosed through pathology, 15 of whom were confirmed with surgery, and 22 were confirmed with lung puncture or biopsy. The imaging findings showed that 26 patients had pulmonary nodules, 16 of whom had lung patch shadows, with 8 cases of space-occupying lesions and 7 cases of hollow shadows. Most of the patients were treated with 0.4 g of fluconazole for 1/d and 0.2 g after surgery, 1/d, with the illness condition stable.
CONCLUSION For the patients with normal immune function, mild clinical symptoms and abnormal imaging findings, it is necessary to carry out the pathological examination as early as possible and develop the treatment program based on clinical manifestations, imaging findings and serum LA test.