Cryptococcus neoformans endocarditis cured by amphotericin B.

Abstract

MYCOTIC ENDOCARDITIS due to Cryptococcus neoformans is a rare illness. 1 To our knowledge only one verified case has been reported. 2 This paper describes the first case of C neoformans endocarditis manifesting fungemia successfully treated with amphotericin B. Report of a Case A 55-year-old white man was admitted to this hospital on Aug 7, 1965, with complaints of weight loss, fever, and hiccoughs. He was seen by a physician three weeks prior to admission for a respiratory tract infection and treated with penicillin for ten days. The fever decreased somewhat but never completely disappeared. Despite a good appetite, he lost approximately 6.8 kg (15 lb), and experienced night sweats and increasing fatigue. He gave a history of chorea in childhood and Bright's disease at age 21, and of a more recent episode of an irregular heart rhythm treated with digitalis. Physical examination of the moderately ill, perspiring, obese patient