AUTHOR=Tee Vincent , Maiden Abdul Hakim , Othman Fatimah , Chua Ping Sheng , Wong Mung Seong 

TITLE=Normal opening pressure lumbar puncture in cryptococcal meningitis complicated by a cerebral venous thrombosis: a case report and literature review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1619155

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2025.1619155

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a severe fungal infection that primarily affects individuals with compromised immune systems, such as those living with HIV/AIDS or undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. Elevated intracranial pressure is a common complication of CM and remains an important diagnostic parameter in patients with CM. This report describes a case of CM complicated with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) in an immunocompetent patient residing in the southern region of Peninsular Malaysia. The diagnosis of CM was confirmed by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture; however, the patient presented with normal opening pressure during lumbar puncture. The pathophysiology and factors of causality, together with their diagnostic challenges, are discussed.