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Case Reports
. 2022 Jul 12:13:20406223221102784.
doi: 10.1177/20406223221102784. eCollection 2022.

'When Cryptococcus strikes and lupus is found': a unique covert unveiling of systemic lupus erythematosus presenting as subacute meningitis

Francis Essien  1 , Marquise Westbrook  2 , Graey Wolfley  3 , Shane Patterson  4 , Matthew Carrol  5
Affiliations
Case Reports

'When Cryptococcus strikes and lupus is found': a unique covert unveiling of systemic lupus erythematosus presenting as subacute meningitis

Francis Essien et al. Ther Adv Chronic Dis. .

Abstract

Cryptococcal neoformans is a rare fungal pathogen that has been associated with immunocompromised individuals. Due to its rare occurrence, clinicians have a low index of suspicion for diagnosis, which can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. We present an 81-year-old fully functional woman with no known predisposing risk factors or previous immunocompromising conditions who was found to have cryptococcal meningitis on cerebrospinal fluid analysis in the setting of newly diagnosed uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Keywords: cryptococcus; lupus; meningitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
MRI of the brain.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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