Idiopathic Cd4+T-lymphocytopenia—two unusual patients with cryptococcal meningitis

• Published in: The Journal of infection Vol. 51; no. 2; pp. E15 - E18
• Main Authors: Lepur, Dragan, Vranjican, Zoran, Baršić, Bruno, Himbele, Josip, Klinar, Igor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2005
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; CD4+T-lymphocytopenia; Cryptococcal; Cryptococcus; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus Infections - complications; Cytomegalovirus Infections - diagnosis; Epstein-Barr virus; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - complications; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections - diagnosis; Fatal Outcome; Female; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Male; Meningitis; Meningitis, Cryptococcal - complications; Meningitis, Cryptococcal - diagnosis; Meningitis, Cryptococcal - drug therapy; Meningitis, Cryptococcal - microbiology; T-Lymphocytopenia, Idiopathic CD4-Positive - complications; T-Lymphocytopenia, Idiopathic CD4-Positive - diagnosis; T-Lymphocytopenia, Idiopathic CD4-Positive - drug therapy; T-Lymphocytopenia, Idiopathic CD4-Positive - microbiology; Treatment Outcome; Meningitis; CD4+T-lymphocytopenia; Cryptococcal
• ISSN: 0163-4453; 1532-2742
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2004.07.002

Idiopathic CD4+T-lymphocytopenia (ICL) is a syndrome characterised by the depletion in the CD4+T-cells but without evidence of HIV infection. Aside from low CD4+lymphocyte counts, the immunologic findings in these patients are distinct from the abnormalities found in HIV infection. There are numerous reports of ICL associated with different diseases and clinical conditions. Opportunistic infections, mostly seen in HIV patients are the most common among them. We describe two patients without risk factors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, each of whom presented with cryptococcal meningitis and was found to have idiopathic CD4+T-lymphocytopenia. One of them also acquired EBV and CMV coinfection of the central nervous system.