Abstract
We report a case of primary pulmonary cryptococcosis diagnosed by detection of a cryptococcal antigen.
A 37-year-old female was admitted to Sawara Hospital on August 17, 1993 because of a cough. At the time of admission, physical and laboratory examinations revealed no abnormal findings, but chest X-ray showed an infiltration and consolidated shadows in the right upper lobe. The patient was treated with 200mg/day of minocycline for 8 days, but no clinical improvement was seen either in the cough or by chest X-ray. We then examined the serum cryptococcal antigen and it showed high titer (×64). Our diagnosis was primary pulmonary cryptococcosis.
The patient was then treated with a daily dose of fluconazole 200mg DIV for 7 days and 400mg PO for 22 days. The antigen titer was decreased from ×64 to ×16.
The cryptococcal antigen test was useful in diagnosing of primary pulmonary cryptococcosis and in monitoring the effect of treatment.
