Dexamethasone in cryptococcus gattii central nervous system infection

Abstract

Clinical outcomes were reviewed for 4 patients with Cryptococcus gattii central nervous system infection who received dexamethasone for the treatment of persisting mental status abnormalities and focal lesions on brain scan despite culture- negative cerebrospinal fluid and the management of intra-cranial pressure. Favorable clinical responses were observed in 3 patients. Although corticosteroids are not recommended for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis, these observations suggest that dexamethasone should be further evaluated in this subset of patients. © 2009 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.