RT Journal
A1 Wheat LJ, Kohler RB, Tewari RP, Garten M, French MV
T1 SIgnificance of histoplasma antigen in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with meningitis
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 1989
FD February 1
VO 149
IS 2
SP 302
OP 304
DO 10.1001/archinte.1989.00390020044009
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1989.00390020044009
AB • A radioimmunoassay was previously developed for detection of Histoplasma capsulatum antigen in the blood and urine of patients with disseminated histoplasmosis. In this investigation, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from 14 episodes of Histoplasma meningitis occurring in 12 patients were tested by radioimmunoassay. Histoplasma capsulatum antigen was detected in the CSF of five patients. Cerebrospinal fluid cultures were positive for H capsulatum in three of these five patients. Antibodies to H capsulatum were found in nine of the 13 CSF specimens tested. The radioimmunoassay for Histoplasma antigen was also positive in the CSF in one of 11 patients with coccidioidal meningitis but not in 17 patients with cryptococcal meningitis. It was concluded that Histoplasma antigen is present in the CSF of some patients with histoplasmosis and chronic meningitis, but cross-reactions may occur in patients with coccidioidal meningitis.(Arch Intern Med 1989;149:302-304)