Abstract

FERNANDEZ GONZALEZ, MC; PEREZ BLAZQUEZ, E; GALVEZ RUIZ, A  and  BONALES DAIMIEL, JA. Cryptococcal choroiditis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol [online]. 2003, vol.78, n.2, pp.103-105. ISSN 0365-6691.

Purpose/Methods: We report the case of a 31 year old male with presumed cryptococcal choroiditis associated with cryptococcal meningitis and AIDS. Multiple yellowish-whitish small choroidal lesions, retinal hemorrhages and cotton-wool spots appeared in the posterior pole associated with vision loss. We also carried out differential diagnosis with other frequent diseases and a review of the treatments. Results/Conclusions: Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungus with a predilection for infecting the meninges in patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome AIDS (10%). Ocular manifestation usually includes cranial nerve palsies or papilledema secondary to increased intracranial pressure. Cryptococcal choroiditis is less frequent (5% of patients with meningitis).

Keywords : Cryptococcus-neoformans; choroid-diseases; eye-infection; fungal-etiology.