Abstract:
Background. Cryptococcus neoformans is a frequent opportunistic infection in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome. While the advent of ART reduces the occurrence of cryptococcal meningitis in HIV patients, cryptococcal disease
remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing world especially in sub-Saharan Africa which is the epicenter
of HIV. (is study aimed to assess the cryptococcal antigenemia, CD4+ ( cell counts, HIV RNA viral load, and clinical
presentations among HIV-positive patients in Northwest Ethiopia. Method. A total of two hundred (200) HIV-positive patients
were recruited for this study. Cryptococcus antigenemia prevalence in plasma samples of HIV-positive patients was determined by
using Antigen lateral flow assay (CrAg-LFA) also, and CD4+ ( cell counts and HIV-RNA levels were quantified from blood
specimen. Patients’ demographic data, clinical manifestation, and concurrent opportunistic infection were recorded. Result. (e
sex distributions of study participants were 105(52.5%) male and 94(47.5%) female with an age range of 15–65 (mean 39.42±9)
years. All patients had a CD4+ T-cell count <100 cells/µl with the median 54 cells/μl and median HIV-RNA viral load 2.16 ×105
RNA copies/ml (50–3.66 ×105 RNA copies/ml); the prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia was found to be 4% in HIV-positive
patients. More than half and two third of CrAg-positive patients had a CD4 count<25 cells/μl and HIV viral load>10,000 copies/
ml, respectively, as well; Tuberculosis, Candidiasis, and herpes zoster are the most often observed concurrent infections while
cryptococcal antigenemia is significantly associated with oral candidiasis (p<0.001). Conclusion. Although the advent of ART,
early diagnosis of cryptococcosis, and application of antifungal interventions, HIV-induced cryptococcal antigenemia positivity in
HIV infected individuals is still the countries’ big challenge. (us, stringent follow-up and case manag
