E-ISSN: 2314-7326
P-ISSN: 2314-7334

Journal of Neuroinfectious Diseases
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  • Case Report   
  • J Neuroinfect Dis 2019, Vol 10(1): 286
  • DOI: 10.4172/2314-7326.1000286

Cryptococcal Meningitis Presenting as Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus in an Immunocompetent Patient

Neda Zarghami Esfahani1*, Lama Abdel Wahed1, Ludwig Gutmann1 and Judy A Streit2
1Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
2Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
*Corresponding Author : Neda Zarghami Esfahani, Department of Neurology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Dr Iowa City, IA 52242, USA, Tel: +13193562580, Email: neda-esfahani@uiowa.edu

Received Date: Mar 04, 2019 / Accepted Date: Mar 11, 2019 / Published Date: Mar 18, 2019

Abstract

Background: Cryptococcus neoformans, an encapsulated saprophytic fungus, is an opportunistic pathogen that is more commonly encountered in immunocompromised individuals. Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is characterized by the classic clinical triad of gait disturbance, urinary incontinence and dementia in the presence of enlarged ventricles and with normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure. Although cryptococcal meningitis (CM) has been reported in association with NPH, it is rarely on the differential diagnosis for hydrocephalus in immunocompetent patients, especially those without fever or meningeal signs.
Case presentation: We report a case of chronic cryptococcal meningitis disguised as normal pressure hydrocephalus in an immunocompetent elderly patient. The disease progressed in a 79-year-old man over one year of worsening cognition, gait disturbances and urinary incontinence. His presentation was complicated by developing parkinsonian features as well as weight loss. He had a presumed diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus considering a computed tomography demonstrated hydrocephalus out of proportion to the amount of atrophy. He underwent a large volume lumbar puncture and his cerebrospinal fluid analysis was remarkable for pleocytosis and elevated protein which raised the concern for an infectious cause. Further investigations yielded a positive cryptococcal antigen in the cerebrospinal fluid and serum. The patient was treated with antifungal agents with favorable results.
Conclusion: This case report highlights the importance of sending cerebrospinal fluid for analysis as more similar cases are emerging in literature, it would be a critical step in ruling out treatable causes of dementia and spare the patient from unnecessary invasive procedures such as shunt placement to treat the hydrocephalus while overlooking the underlying cause.

Citation: Esfahani NZ, Wahed LA, Gutmann L, Strei JA (2019) Cryptococcal Meningitis Presenting as Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus in an Immunocompetent Patient. J Neuroinfect Dis 10:286. Doi: 10.4172/2314-7326.1000286

Copyright: © 2019 Esfahani NZ, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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