The hematologic characteristics at the moment of admission of 44 patients treated for cryptococcosis associated with AIDS in the XI Ward of the Muñiz Hospital, from January of 2000 to December of 2004, were retrospectively evaluated. In each case, the results of the hematologic studies and TCD4+ lymphocytes count were taken into account (red cell, leukocytes and platelet counts), at the moment of admission. In 33 (84.61%) out of 39 patients, the erythrocytes count was <4.500.000/mm³ and in 31 (79.49%), hemoglobin concentration was <13.6 g/dL; hematocrit, whose result was available in 42 (95.45%) patients, was <40% in 32 (76.19%) of them. In 13 (30.95%) of 42 leukocyte counts, <4.000 cells/mm³ were observed, and in 13 (36.11%) of 36 platelet counts,there were <150.000/mm³. Regarding the TCD4+ lymphocyte counts, 34 (97.14%) out of 35 patients with this value available had <200 cells/mm³. Cytopenias were the most common alterations found in AIDS-associated cryptococcosis evaluated patients and their etiology could be the HIV disease, due to this mycosis and eventually the coexistent pathologies that are generally observed in them.

Fueron evaluadas retrospectivamente las características hematológicas de 44 pacientes con criptococosis y sida, asistidos en la Sala XI del Hospital Muñiz, entre enero de 2000 y diciembre de 2004. En todos ellos fueron tenidos en cuenta los resultados de los estudios hematológicos (recuento de leucocitos, eritrocitos y plaquetas y el hematocrito) y el recuento de linfocitos TCD4+, al momento de la internación. En 33 (84,61%) de 39 pacientes, el recuento de eritrocitos fue <4.500.000/mm³ y en 31 (79,49%) la concentración de hemoglobina fue <13,6 g/dL; el hematocrito, cuyo resultado estuvo disponible en 42 (95,45%) pacientes, fue <40% en 32 (76,19%). En 13 (30,95%) de 42 recuentos leucocitarios se encontró <4.000 células/mm³, y en 13 (36,11%) de 36 recuentos de plaquetas, se hallaron valores <150.000/mm³. Respecto de los recuentos de linfocitos TCD4+, 34 (97,14%) de 35 pacientes con ese valor disponible tenían <200 células/mm³. Las citopenias fueron las alteraciones más frecuentes entre los pacientes con criptococosis asociada al sida evaluados y su etiología podría ser la enfermedad por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana, por esta micosis y eventualmente por los procesos patológicos que en general coexisten en ellos.

Criptosporidiose em pacientes pediátricos Cryptosporidium foi detectado em 21 (3,8%) amostras de fezes obtidas de 553 pacientes pediátricos atendidos em nosso centro médico, com a técnica de concentração de Telemann (formalinaétercentrifugação) e coloração de Kinyoun modificada. A média etária da população com criptosporidiose (16 meninos e 5 meninas) foi de 11 meses: 15 para as meninas e 6,5 meses para os meninos; 81% das idades desses pacientes foram menores de 19 meses; 76% eram moradores nas zonas marginais de Buenos Aires e 71% com falta de água potável. Em 62% dos casos os diagnósticos parasitológicos foram efetuados nas estações com alta temperatura. No momento do diagnóstico observouse diarréia em 90% dos pacientes. Entre estes 63% apresentavam diarréia com presença de muco e 36% diarréia aquosa, com média de 5 evacuações diárias. Febre foi notada em 66% dos pacientes e dores abdominais e vômitos em 60% e 52%, respectivamente. O tempo médio de internação, desde o diagnóstico parasitológico, foi de 20 dias. As doenças concomitantes observadas foram desnutrição, leucemia aguda, bronquiolite, infecções por HIV, anemia, doença celíaca, mielofibrose, tumor de saco vitelino, neutropenia, osteossarcoma e desidratação. A criptosporidiose no nosso meio parece ocorrer em crianças menores de 18 meses de idade; as que apresentam diarréia, são imunodeficientes e pertencem a faixas sócioeconômicas de baixo nível, como moradores de zonas com precárias condições sanitárias desprovidas de água potável.

Cryptosporidium was detected in 21 (3.8%) individual stool samples collected from 553 pediatric patients hospitalized in our center employing a Telemann concentration technique (formalinethercentrifugation) and stained with the modified Kinyoun method. The mean age of populations with Cryptosporidiosis (16 boys and 5 girls) was 11 months; 15 months for girls and 6.5 for boys. Ages of 81% of them were less than 19 months. Seventysix per cent of patients lived on the outskirts of Buenos Aires and 71% lacked pretreated running water at home. In 62% of the cases parasitological diagnoses coincided with warm seasons. At diagnosis mucous (63%) or watery (36%) diarrhea was presented in 90% of the patients with a median of 5 (38) bowel movements per day. Fever was presented in 66% of patients while abdominal pain and vomits in 60% and 52%, respectively. The median time from hospitalization up to parasitologic diagnosis was 20 days. Concomitant diseases observed were malnutrition, acute leukemia, bronchiolitis, HIV infection, anemia, celiac disease, myelofibrosis, vitelline sac tumor, neutropenia, osteosarcoma and dehydration. Cryptosporidiosis in our environment seems to occur more frequently in children younger than 18 months of age; who present diarrhea; are immunodeficient; come from a low socioeconomical background; and who live in poor sanitary conditions with no potable running water.