Table 1 Clinical and laboratory parameters of patients diagnosed as having AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis between January 1999-March 2001 and from April 2001-December 2002 (before and during the fluconazole donation programme respectively)
Before April 2001 (n = 77) | From April 2001 (n = 128) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|
Median age in years (range) | 33 (17–75) | 35 (21–66) | 0.4 |
Male sex | 36 (47%) | 63 (49%) | 0.7 |
Prior AIDS-defining illness | 20 (26%) | 26 (20%) | 0.3 |
Prior tuberculosis | 51 (66%) | 91 (71%) | 0.5 |
Concurrent TB treatment | 33 (43%) | 52 (41%) | 0.8 |
CSF India Ink | (n = 68) | (n = 121) | 0.2 |
Positive | 56 (82%) | 88 (73%) | 0.2 |
CSF CLAT titer | (n = 50) | (n = 82) | 0.9 |
≥ 1000 | 36 (72%) | 57 (70%) | 0.9 |
< 1000 | 14 (28%) | 25 (30%) | |
CSF fungal culture | (n = 29) | (n = 66) | 0.07 |
Positive | 27 (93%) | 51 (77%) | 0.1 |
Level of consciousness | |||
Stage 1 | 45 (58%) | 70 (55%) | 0.9 |
Stage 2 | 30 (39%) | 54 (42%) | |
Stage 3 | 2 (3%) | 4 (3%) | |
Therapeutic lumbar punctures | (n = 7) | (n = 23) | 0.12 |
Single | 4 | 14 | 1.0 |
Multiple | 3 | 9 | |
Any treatment received | |||
Yes | 62 (81%) | 121 (95%) | <0.01 |
No | 15 (19%) | 7 (5%) | |
Type of initial treatment received | (n = 62) | (n = 121) | |
Fluconazole 200 | 45 (73%) | 12 (10%) | <0.001 |
Fluconazole 400 | 4 (6%) | 109 (90%) | |
Amphotericin B* | 13 (21%) | 0 (0%) |