[Clinical characteristics for connective tissue disease complicated with cryptococcal meningitis].

To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis for connective tissue disease (CTD) with cryptococcal meningitis (CM).

Methods

Clinical data of 18 patients with CTD complicated with cryptococcal meningitis diagnosed by Rheumatology and Immunology Department, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University from January 2000 to January 2017, were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

The common symptoms of CTD patients with CM were headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Patients with severe clinical manifestations, such as convulsions and disturbance of consciousness, all died. Logistic regression analysis showed that disturbance of consciousness and decreased peripheral blood lymphocyte count might be the related factors of poor prognosis of CTD patients with CM (P<0.05). The mortality rate of CTD with CM was 61.11%, and the effective rate of treatment for this disease was 38.89%.

Conclusion

CTD patients with cryptococcal meningitis have a high risk of death. Severe clinical symptoms, such as disturbance of consciousness and lower peripheral blood lymphocyte count, are associated with its poor prognosis.