Unique Cerebrospinal Fluid Profiles of Patients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus- Associated Cryptococcal Meningitis With a Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt : A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: The long-term complications of ventriculoperitoneal shunting in patients with human immunodeficiency virus-associated cryptococcal meningitis remain unclear. We conducted a case-control study investigating the long-term effects of ventriculoperitoneal shunting in patients with human immunodeficiency virus-associated cryptococcal meningitis. Methods: : Between January 2011 and December 2019, 112 patients with human immunodeficiency virus-associated cryptococcal meningitis from our hospital were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. Of those, 30 (26.8%) patients underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS group); the remaining (n = 82; 73.2%) were included in the non-VPS group. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with ventriculoperitoneal shunting. Results: : The VPS group (n=21) had lower cerebrospinal fluid glucose (2.51±0.81 vs. 3.16±0.48 mmol/L; P =0.002) and higher cerebrospinal fluid protein levels (1.37 [0.83–1.49] vs. 0.49 [0.49–0.49] g/L; P =0.011) than did the non-VPS group (n=21). Intracranial pressure decreased from 400 (375–450) to 164 (145–172) mmH 2 O in the VPS group (log-rank, P <0.001). The 24-week cumulative survival rates in the VPS and non-VPS groups were 100.0% and 79.8%, respectively ( P =0.035). The misdiagnosis rates of tuberculous meningitis were 28.6% and 0.0%, respectively ( P =0.008). Conclusions: : Ventriculoperitoneal shunting decreased the intracranial pressure and 24-week mortality in patients with human immunodeficiency virus-associated cryptococcal meningitis, but significantly increased cerebrospinal fluid protein levels, leading to a higher misdiagnosis rate of tuberculous meningitis. Physicians should be aware of these changes in the cerebrospinal fluid profiles of patients with human immunodeficiency virus-associated cryptococcal meningitis with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.