Cryptococcal meningitis and cerebral vasculitis in a patient with primary intestinal lymphangiectasia: a case report

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2023 Oct;42(10):1263-1267. doi: 10.1007/s10096-023-04657-y. Epub 2023 Sep 5.

Abstract

Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (Waldmann's disease) is a rare exudative enteropathy without precisely assessed infectious risk. We report the case of a 49-year-old male patient with meningitis and cerebral vasculitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans complicating Waldmann's disease diagnosed 12 years ago. The treatment combined liposomal amphotericin B, 3 mg/kg daily plus flucytosine 25 mg/kg/6 h, both intravenously during 15 days, then fluconazole 800 mg daily during 8 weeks, and finally 200 mg daily indefinitely. Dexamethasone 0.4 mg/kg daily during the first week was gradually decreased over 2 months. The outcome was good, and the patient is still followed 3 years later without any recurrence.

Keywords: Central nervous system vasculitis; Cryptococcal meningitis; Exudative enteropathies; Fungal meningitis; Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia; Waldmann’s disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cryptococcosis* / complications
  • Cryptococcosis* / diagnosis
  • Cryptococcosis* / drug therapy
  • Cryptococcus neoformans*
  • Humans
  • Lymphangiectasis, Intestinal
  • Lymphedema
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Cryptococcal* / complications
  • Meningitis, Cryptococcal* / diagnosis
  • Meningitis, Cryptococcal* / drug therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System* / complications
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System* / diagnosis
  • Vasculitis, Central Nervous System* / drug therapy

Supplementary concepts

  • Waldmann disease