O rastreamento do antígeno polissacarídeo criptocócico (CrAg) e a terapia antifúngica preventiva para pessoas que são positivas para CrAg melhoram a sobrevida e reduzem o desenvolvimento de doença criptocócica invasiva.[30]Awotiwon AA, Johnson S, Rutherford GW, et al. Primary antifungal prophylaxis for cryptococcal disease in HIV-positive people. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Aug 29;(8):CD004773.
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD004773.pub3/full
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30156270?tool=bestpractice.com
[31]Mfinanga S, Chanda D, Kivuyo SL, et al. Cryptococcal meningitis screening and community-based early adherence support in people with advanced HIV infection starting antiretroviral therapy in Tanzania and Zambia: an open-label, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2015 May 30;385(9983):2173-82.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25765698?tool=bestpractice.com
[32]Rajasingham R, Meya DB, Greene GS, et al. Evaluation of a national cryptococcal antigen screening program for HIV-infected patients in Uganda: a cost-effectiveness modeling analysis. PLoS One. 2019 Jan 10;14(1):e0210105.
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0210105
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30629619?tool=bestpractice.com
[33]Powderly WG, Finkelstein D, Feinberg J, et al; NIAID AIDS Clinical Trials Group. A randomized trial comparing fluconazole with clotrimazole troches for the prevention of fungal infections in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. N Engl J Med. 1995 Mar 16;332(11):700-5.
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199503163321102
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7854376?tool=bestpractice.com
[34]McKinsey DS, Wheat LJ, Cloud GA, et al; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group. Itraconazole prophylaxis for fungal infections in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection: randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Clin Infect Dis. 1999 May;28(5):1049-56.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10452633?tool=bestpractice.com
Isso foi estudado com mais rigor no estudo REMSTART, que randomizou 2000 indivíduos com infecção por HIV e contagem de CD4 <200 células/microlitro para o padrão de cuidados ou padrão de cuidados associado ao rastreamento de CrAg e aconselhamento sobre adesão.[31]Mfinanga S, Chanda D, Kivuyo SL, et al. Cryptococcal meningitis screening and community-based early adherence support in people with advanced HIV infection starting antiretroviral therapy in Tanzania and Zambia: an open-label, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2015 May 30;385(9983):2173-82.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25765698?tool=bestpractice.com
O ensaio observou uma redução relativa de 28% na mortalidade de pacientes que receberam o rastreamento de CrAg e aconselhamento sobre a adesão.
A Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) e outras diretrizes internacionais recomendam o rastreamento de todos os adultos e adolescentes com infecção por HIV e uma contagem de CD4 <100 células/microlitro antes de iniciar ou reiniciar a terapia antirretroviral (TAR).[23]World Health Organization. Guidelines for diagnosing, preventing and managing cryptococcal disease among adults, adolescents and children living with HIV. Jun 2022 [internet publication].
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240052178
[35]Chang CC, Harrison TS, Bicanic TA, et al. Global guideline for the diagnosis and management of cryptococcosis: an initiative of the ECMM and ISHAM in cooperation with the ASM. Lancet Infect Dis. 2024 Aug;24(8):e495-512. [Erratum in: Lancet Infect Dis. 2024 Aug;24(8):e485.]
https://www.idsociety.org/globalassets/idsa/practice-guidelines/diagnosis-and-management-of-crypto/global-guideline-for-the-diagnosis-and-management-of-cryptococcosis-an-initiative-of-the-ecmm-and-isham-in-cooperation-with-the-asm.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38346436?tool=bestpractice.com
As diretrizes dos EUA recomendam testes de vigilância de rotina para CrAg sérico em pessoas que se apresentam recentemente para tratamento de HIV e que não apresentam sinais clínicos evidentes de meningite e cujas contagens de CD4 são ≤200 células/microlitro, e particularmente naquelas com contagens de CD4 ≤50 células/microlitro.[20]Panel on Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in adults and adolescents with HIV: cryptococcosis. Oct 2024 [internet publication].
https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/guidelines/hiv-clinical-guidelines-adult-and-adolescent-opportunistic-infections/cryptococcosis
As pessoas com teste de rastreamento positivo devem ser submetidas à avaliação do líquido cefalorraquidiano para infecção do sistema nervoso central.[20]Panel on Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in adults and adolescents with HIV: cryptococcosis. Oct 2024 [internet publication].
https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/guidelines/hiv-clinical-guidelines-adult-and-adolescent-opportunistic-infections/cryptococcosis
Aqueles positivos para o CrAg, sem sinais ou sintomas de meningite, devem receber terapia antifúngica preventiva (fluconazol, administrado como esquema de indução, consolidação e manutenção).[20]Panel on Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in adults and adolescents with HIV: cryptococcosis. Oct 2024 [internet publication].
https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/guidelines/hiv-clinical-guidelines-adult-and-adolescent-opportunistic-infections/cryptococcosis
Em ambientes em que o rastreamento de antígeno não está disponível, a OMS recomenda iniciar a profilaxia primária com fluconazol em indivíduos com infecção por HIV e contagem de CD4 <100 células/microlitro (também pode ser considerado em limiares mais altos de contagem de CD4 <200 células/microlitro).[23]World Health Organization. Guidelines for diagnosing, preventing and managing cryptococcal disease among adults, adolescents and children living with HIV. Jun 2022 [internet publication].
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240052178
A profilaxia antifúngica na ausência de um teste de CrAg sérico positivo não é recomendada pelas diretrizes dos EUA.[20]Panel on Opportunistic Infections in HIV-Infected Adults and Adolescents. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in adults and adolescents with HIV: cryptococcosis. Oct 2024 [internet publication].
https://clinicalinfo.hiv.gov/en/guidelines/hiv-clinical-guidelines-adult-and-adolescent-opportunistic-infections/cryptococcosis