Maintenance Amphotericin B for Cryptococcal Meningitis in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

We previously reported our experience (1) with the treatment of cryptococcal infections in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Like other investigators (2, 3) we noted a high relapse rate and a poor response to treatment among patients with relapsed infections. Continued weekly infusions of amphotericin B after a standard course of therapy seemed to offer our patients some protection against relapse. Of seven patients who received maintenance therapy with amphotericin B, none had relapses; four of eight patients had relapses when maintenance therapy was not administered. This observation prompted us to recommend maintenance amphotericin B for all patients