OBJECTIVE

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is an important complication of cryptococcal meningitis (CM) and impacts morbidity and mortality. Factors associated with permanent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement are poorly characterized.

METHOD

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with CM at the University of Alabama at Birmingham from 1996 through 2015. Characteristics of patients at time of CM diagnosis who did and did not receive a VP shunt were compared with use of the 2-group chi-square test or Fisher exact test for categorical variables and the 2-group test for continuous variables. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors of shunt placement.

RESULTS

Of 422 patients with cryptococcosis, 257 (60.9%) had CM. Mean age was 47.7 years, 71.6% were male, and 44.4% were African American. The most common underlying conditions were HIV (42.4%), solid organ transplantation (29.6%), and corticosteroid use (34.2%). Forty-four (17.1%) received a VP shunt a median of 17 days (range, 1-320 days) post-diagnosis. By multivariable analysis, baseline opening pressure >30 cm HO (OR, 9.4; 95% CI, 3.0, 28.8; < .0001), being a normal host (OR, 6.3; 95% CI, 1.5, 26.1; = .011) and hydrocephalus (OR, 4.9, 95% CI, 1.3, 17.9); = .017) were associated with increased odds of shunting (Table 2). In contrast, age (OR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.92, 0.99; = .037) and male gender (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.06, 0.55; = .023) were associated with decreased odds of shunting.

CONCLUSIONS

Identification of factors at time of CM diagnosis associated with need for permanent VP shunt placement may allow for earlier, more aggressive treatment and potentially improve outcomes associated with increased ICP from cryptococcal meningitis.