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The purpose of research - the study of clinical and pathogenetical features of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CME) in patients with HIV infection for the improvement of the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment. Materials and Methods. There are presented the results of the study of 67 cases of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis in patients with HIV infection. There was performed an assessment of the clinical picture and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which was consisted of direct microscopy, cultural method and PCR. Also pathomorphological data of deceased patients have been analyzed. Results of the study. The clinical picture of CME was mildly pronounced and not constant. Dominant complaint is constant headache diffuse in character. Meningeal symptoms are uncertain or absent. CSF changes are not specific, most informative methods are PCR and mycological study of CSF. The fatality was causedfirst ofall by the development of edema-brain swelling and the dislocation of stem structures. Conclusion. The clinical picture of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis is caused first of all by destructive processes in brain tissue and progression of the development of edema-brain swelling. The clinical picture is poorly pronounced and is not constant, therefore to all patients with HIV infection in the presence of long-term headache the CSF examination is indicated even in the absence of meningeal symptoms.
Patients with clinical manifestations of meningococcal infection were examined for verification of diagnosis. The authors conclude that repeated combined analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid and serum is needed for verification of meningococcal infection in patients with typical clinical symptoms.
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