Cerebrospinal Fluid Lactate as a Prognostic Marker of Disease Severity and Mortality in Cryptococcal Meningitis

Abstract

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) lactate levels can differentiate between bacterial and viral meningitis. We measured CSF lactate in individuals with cryptococcal meningitis to determine its clinical significance. ; ; Methods: We measured point-of-care CSF lactate at the bedside of 319 HIV-infected Ugandan adults at diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis. We summarized demographic variables and clinical characteristics by CSF lactate tertiles. We evaluated the association of CSF lactate with clinical characteristics and survival.; ; Results: Individuals with high CSF lactate >5 mmol/L at cryptococcal diagnosis more likely presented with altered mental status (p 5 mmol/L (35%; 38/109) as compared to individuals with mid-range (22%; 25/112) or low CSF lactate (9%; 9/97; p= 5mmol/L remained independently associated with excess mortality (adjusted Hazard Ratio = 3.41; 95%CI, 1.55-7.51; p=.002). We found no correlation between baseline CSF lactate levels and blood capillary lactate levels (p=.72). ; ; Conclusions: Baseline point-of-care CSF lactate levels may be utilized as a prognostic marker of disease severity and mortality in cryptococcal meningitis. Individuals with an elevated baseline CSF lactate are more likely to present with altered mental status, seizures, elevated CSF opening pressures, and are at a greater risk of death. Future studies are needed to determine targeted therapeutic management strategy in persons with high CSF lactate.