Mannose-binding lectin deficiency does not appear to predispose to cryptococcosis in non-immunocompromised patients

Abstract

While most patients with cryptococcosis have obvious cellular immune deficiency, a minority have no apparent predisposing factors. However, in the latter there may be subtle innate immune system deficiencies which go unrecognized. Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to infectious diseases and may predispose to cryptococcosis, particularly when it disseminates to the central nervous system (CNS) in apparently immunocompetent patients. MBL function and levels, as well as MBL2 genotype were determined in 36 HIV-negative cryptococcosis patients (25 with CNS involvement) using C4 deposition and mannan-binding ELISA. MBL deficiency was defined using ..