Between July 2007 and May 2010 sequential HIV-positive adults (age ≥ 21 years) with a first episode of cryptococcal meningitis, diagnosed by CSF India ink or cryptococcal antigen testing (titres ≥ 1:1024, Meridian Cryptococcal Latex Agglutination System, Meridian Bioscience) were screened for enrollment. Exclusion criteria were an alanine aminotransferase concentration more than five times the upper limit of normal (> 200 IU/ml), a neutrophil count < 500 × 106 cells/L, a platelet count < 50,000 × 106 cells/L, pregnancy or lactation, previous serious reaction to study drugs or concomitant medication contraindicated with study drugs. Patients already receiving ART were also excluded. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant, or from the next of kin for patients with altered mental status, prior to randomization. Randomisation was stratified by Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) of 15 or <15. Patients were assigned to one of three intervention groups by means of random computer generated lists in block sizes of 8, using numbers in two sets of sealed envelopes (GCS of 15 or <15) prepared by independent persons. Study clinicians opened envelopes in sequence from the appropriate set as patients were enrolled.
The three intervention arms were: (1) Amphotericin B deoxycholate (Fungizone, Bristol-Myers Squibb) 1mg/kg/day by intravenous infusion over 4 hours plus oral flucytosine (Valeant pharmaceuticals) 25mg/kg 4 times per day for 2 weeks (“Standard therapy”), (2) Standard therapy plus Interferon-γ1b (Immukin, Boehringer Ingelheim) 100μg by sub-cutaneous injection on days 1 and 3 (“IFNγ 2-doses”), and (3) Standard therapy plus Interferon-γ1b (Immukin, Boehringer Ingelheim) 100μg by sub-cutaneous injection on days 1, 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12 (“IFNγ 6-doses”).
Unless contraindicated all patients received 1L 0.9% (normal) saline with 20mmol KCl prior to amphotericin B to minimise nephrotoxicity, and were routinely given oral potassium and magnesium supplementation. Amphotericin B was discontinued if the serum creatinine increased to >220μmol/L despite adequate hydration, and patients were switched to fluconazole 400mg/day. When necessary, flucytosine doses were adjusted for reduced renal function, reduced by 50% for grade 3 neutropaenia or thrombocytopaenia, and discontinued for grade 4 neutropaenia or thrombocytopaenia. After 2 weeks all patients received fluconazole (Diflucan, Pfizer) 400mg daily for 8 weeks and 200mg daily thereafter, unless they were taking rifampicin, in which case doses were increased by 50%. Anti-retroviral therapy with stavudine, lamivudine and either efavirenz or nevirapine was initiated between 2 and 4 weeks after starting antifungal therapy, unless contra-indicated, in accordance with South African national guidelines [18 , 19 ], and patients were followed-up for one-year post enrolment with particular attention paid to any clinical presentations related to cryptococcal immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS).
The three intervention arms were: (1) Amphotericin B deoxycholate (Fungizone, Bristol-Myers Squibb) 1mg/kg/day by intravenous infusion over 4 hours plus oral flucytosine (Valeant pharmaceuticals) 25mg/kg 4 times per day for 2 weeks (“Standard therapy”), (2) Standard therapy plus Interferon-γ1b (Immukin, Boehringer Ingelheim) 100μg by sub-cutaneous injection on days 1 and 3 (“IFNγ 2-doses”), and (3) Standard therapy plus Interferon-γ1b (Immukin, Boehringer Ingelheim) 100μg by sub-cutaneous injection on days 1, 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12 (“IFNγ 6-doses”).
Unless contraindicated all patients received 1L 0.9% (normal) saline with 20mmol KCl prior to amphotericin B to minimise nephrotoxicity, and were routinely given oral potassium and magnesium supplementation. Amphotericin B was discontinued if the serum creatinine increased to >220μmol/L despite adequate hydration, and patients were switched to fluconazole 400mg/day. When necessary, flucytosine doses were adjusted for reduced renal function, reduced by 50% for grade 3 neutropaenia or thrombocytopaenia, and discontinued for grade 4 neutropaenia or thrombocytopaenia. After 2 weeks all patients received fluconazole (Diflucan, Pfizer) 400mg daily for 8 weeks and 200mg daily thereafter, unless they were taking rifampicin, in which case doses were increased by 50%. Anti-retroviral therapy with stavudine, lamivudine and either efavirenz or nevirapine was initiated between 2 and 4 weeks after starting antifungal therapy, unless contra-indicated, in accordance with South African national guidelines [18 , 19 ], and patients were followed-up for one-year post enrolment with particular attention paid to any clinical presentations related to cryptococcal immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS).