Chemokine and Cytokine Cascade Caused by Skewing of the Th1-Th2 Balance Is Associated with High Intracranial Pressure in HIV-Associated Cryptococcal Meningitis
Table 1
Patient baseline characteristics ().
Parameter
HIV-Crypt- ()
HIV+Crypt- ()
HIV+Crypt+ ()
value
Age (y) ()
0.761
Sex (male/female)
11/6
22/4
37/2
0.004
CD4+ (cells/μl)
—
82 (18.0-266.0)
35 (15.0-55.3)
0.043
CSF parameter
Intracranial pressure (mmH2O)
151 (133-188)
150 (105-182)
350 (280-450)
<0.001
Lymphocyte count (cells/μl)
1 (0-3.0)
1 (0-2.0)
8 (2.0-20.0)
<0.001
Chlorine (mmol/l)
0.026
Glucose (mmol/l)
0.008
Total protein (g/l)
0.3 (0.2-0.4)
0.3 (0.2-0.4)
0.4 (0.2-0.6)
0.050
Albumin (mg/dl)
20.7 (14.7-26.7)
15.0 (12.8-19.3)
20.4 (13.6-34.1)
0.164
β-Microglobulin (mg/dl)
3.8 (2.3-6.6)
4.7 (3.3-6.0)
8.4 (3.9-16.8)
0.006
Cryptococcus (cells/HPF)
—
—
3 (1-30)
—
HIV-Crypt-: patients without HIV or Cryptococcus infection; HIV+Crypt-: patients with HIV but without Cryptococcus infection; HIV+Crypt+: patients with both HIV and Cryptococcus infection; HPF: high-power field (on microscope).
