Hyponatremia as a Predictor of Cryptococcal Meningitis and Death Among Asymptomatic Persons With HIV and Cryptococcal Antigenemia

Abstract

Among persons with HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis serum hyponatremia is a risk factor for mortality; however, the role of hyponatremia in persons with asymptomatic cryptococcal antigenemia is unknown. We found that serum hyponatremia <130 mmol/L is an independent risk factor for progression to meningitis and death in asymptomatic persons with cryptococcal antigenemia.

Baseline C-reactive Protein as a Risk Factor for Cryptococcal Meningitis and Death in HIV-associated Cryptococcal Antigenemia With CrAg Titer as an Effect Modifier

“…Persons with CrAg lateral flow assay (LFA) titers ≥1:160 have a ∼3-fold higher risk of meningitis or death at 6 months in a Uganda study [ 10 ], and similar findings have been found in Ethiopia, South Africa, and Tanzania [ 13–15 ]. A few additional predictors have previously been identified including hyponatremia and lower body mass index [ 16 , 17 ]. However, a thorough understanding of the landscape of risk predictors and how they interact with each other is needed to best design interventions to mitigate morbidity and mortality.…”