Therapeutic Lumbar Punctures in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Cryptococcal Meningitis: Should Opening Pressure Direct Management?

Background: Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) frequently complicates cryptococcal meningitis. Therapeutic lumbar punctures (LPs) have acute survival benefits in the first week, and we sought to understand the longer-term survival impact of therapeutic LPs.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive adults with cryptococcal meningitis from 2013 to 2017 in Uganda. We assessed the association between clinical characteristics, CSF parameters, and 14- and 30-day mortality by baseline ICP. We also assessed 30-day mortality by number of follow-up therapeutic LPs performed within 7 days.

Results: Our analysis included 533 participants. Participants with baseline ICP >350 mm HO were more likely to have Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score <15 ( < .001), seizures ( < .01), and higher quantitative cryptococcal cultures ( < .001), whereas participants with ICP <200 mm HO were more likely to have baseline sterile CSF cultures ( < .001) and CSF white blood cell count ≥5 cells/µL ( = .02). Thirty-day mortality was higher in participants with baseline ICP >350 mm HO and ICP <200 mm HO as compared with baseline ICP 200-350 mm HO (hazard ratio, 1.55 [95% confidence interval, 1.10-2.19];  = .02). Among survivors at least 7 days, the 30-day relative mortality was 50% higher among participants who did not receive any additional therapeutic LPs compared to those with ≥1 additional follow-up LP (33% vs 22%;  = .04), irrespective of baseline ICP.

Conclusions: Management of increased ICP remains crucial in improving clinical outcomes in cryptococcal meningitis. Guidelines should consider an approach to therapeutic LPs that is not dictated by baseline ICP.