A Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Trial of Acetazolamide for the Treatment of Elevated Intracranial Pressure in Cryptococcal Meningitis

Abstract

We conducted a trial of oral acetazolamide for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in 22 Thai adults with headache and an opening cerebrospinal fluid pressure of >/=200 mm H(2)0. The trial was terminated prematurely because patients who received acetazolamide developed significantly lower venous bicarbonate levels and higher chloride levels and had more-frequent serious adverse events than did subjects who received placebo.