Albert-Braun Sabine, Venema F, Bausch J, Hunfeld K-P, Schäfer V
Klinikum Aschaffenburg, Central Laboratory, Am Hasenkopf 1, 63739 Aschaffenburg, Germany.
Infection. 2005 Aug;33(4):282-8. doi: 10.1007/s15010-005-4120-6.
In the absence of coexisting HIV infection Cryptococcus neoformans is rarely considered in the differential diagnosis of peritonitis that occurs in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Here, we report on a 39-year-old male, HIV-negative patient with decompensated alcohol toxic liver cirrhosis who developed a lethal intraperitoneal infection with C. neoformans. We reviewed the literature and found an additional 19 cases with culture confirmed cryptococcal peritonitis in combination with liver disease or AIDS. We suggest that awareness of this unusual but lethal entity may lead to earlier diagnosis and proper treatment.
