Coccidioidomycosis-related hydrocephalus: A case control study.
Coccidioidomycosis meningitis patients need lower final shunt pressures than non-coccidioidomycosis meningitis patients.
Coccidioidomycosis-related hydrocephalus: A case control study.
Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) is a fungal infection endemic to the southwestern United States.
We identified neurosurgical patients who underwent initial shunt placement for hydrocephalus over 7 years at the University of Arizona-Tucson.
shunts in coccidioidomycosis meningitis patients ran at lower final pressures than in non-coccidioidomycosis meningitis patients
Meningitis occurs in approximately 1% of cases and often results in hydrocephalus necessitating shunting and lifelong antifungal therapy.
Of 180 initial shunt placements, 19 (11.7%) had coccidioidomycosis meningitis.
89.5% in non-coccidioidomycosis meningitis (95% CI, 82.1%-93.8%) (P = 0.97).
Anti-siphon valves were used in 78.9% of coccidioidomycosis meningitis patients (95% CI, 54.4%-93.9%) vs 74.5% of non-coccidioidomycosis meningitis patients (95% CI, 67.1%-81.1%) (P = 0.67).
Despite similar valve types and revision etiologies, the data suggests coccidioidomycosis meningitis-related hydrocephalus treatment requires lower shunt pressures over time and may indicate differences in intracranial compliance dynamics in coccidioidomycosis meningitis patients.