False-Negative Cryptococcal Antigen Test

摘要: THE LATEX slide agglutination (LA) test for cryptococcal antigen in the CSF is more sensitive than India ink preparation diagnosing meningitis1,2and most widely used immunologic this disease. We describe here a previously unreported cause of negative LA results patient with meningitis. Report Case A 64-year-old man rheumatoid arthritis receiving 15 mg prednisone daily had fever, headache, confusion, and vertigo three weeks' duration. Initial physical examination demonstrated delirium meningismus. Lumbar puncture showed an opening pressure 360 mm CSF; glucose level, 49 mL/dL; protein 105 mg/dL; WBC count, 40/cu mm. many budding yeast thick capsules. The were initially reported as negative. cultures subsequently grew tan colonies that