Central Nervous Cryptococcosis and Chronic Hepatitis C: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature

Fadi Al Akhrass1,2*, Madison Tackett S2 , Elio Mikhael1 , Sekufe Akhter1 and Shumaila NM Hanif2

Department of Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention, Pikeville Medical Center, Kentucky, USA 2 Department of Basic Sciences, University of Pikeville, Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, USA

^*Correspondance to: Fadi Al Akhrass 

 PDF  Full Text DOI: 10.25107/2474-1647.2959

Abstract

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) could be a risk factor for neuropsychiatric illness and a predisposing factor for meningoencephalitis caused by opportunistic organisms such as Cryptococcus neoformans. Nonetheless, the association between virological cure and resolution of Brain-Blood Barrier (BBB) damage and neuroinflammation has remained unclear. Understanding this association may help develop strategies to reduce neuropsychiatric comorbidity in Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) patients and improve outcomes in addiction medicine, specifically Medication-Assisted Therapy (MAT) retention. Cannabis may be a direct source of inoculation of Cryptococcus species and other fungi in the lungs and subsequent hematogenous dissemination.

Keywords

Blood Brain Barrier (BBB); Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC); Cryptococcal Meningitis (CM); Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF): Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

Cite the article

Al Akhrass F, Madison Tackett S, Mikhael E, Akhter S, Hanif SNM. Central Nervous Cryptococcosis and Chronic Hepatitis C: Two Case Reports and Review of the Literature. Clin Surg. 2020; 5: 2959..