Deafness and blindness in a renal transplant recipient with cryptococcal meningitis

• Main Authors: Sabra Aloui, Mohamed Gorcii, Habib Skhiri, Lamia Jaafoura, Imene Gorsane, Nasr Ben Dhia, Ameur Frih, Rached Azaeiz, Elmezri Elmayl
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2013-01-01
• Series: Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation
• Online Access: http://www.sjkdt.org/article.asp?issn=1319-2442;year=2013;volume=24;issue=1;spage=72;epage=75;aulast=Aloui

Infections are a major determinant of outcome in kidney transplantation. Opportunistic pathogens are common in kidney recipients and several organs can be affected. Central nervous system infection in transplant recipients is a medical emergency. There is limited information in the literature concerning post-transplantation cryptococcal infection. Deafness and blindness are not classic findings. We report a case of meningocerebral cryptococcosis complicated by deafness and blindness after kidney transplantation. Physicians need to consider the possibility of Cryptococcus neoformans when symptoms persist despite empiric antimicrobial therapy.