Abstract
Cryptococcal pneumonia is a severe fungal infection of the respiratory system, predominantly caused by Cryptococcus neoformans. Its incidence is increasing, driven by evolving pathogen dynamics and heightened susceptibility among patient populations. This investigation aimed to assess the combined therapeutic efficacy of Fluconazole and Amphotericin B for cryptococcal pneumonia and to explore the roles of miR-15b and TGF-β1 in modulating treatment response. Twenty-eight patients diagnosed with cryptococcal pneumonia were randomly allocated to receive either Amphotericin B monotherapy (control group) or a combination of Amphotericin B and Fluconazole (observation group) over a 14-day period. Key respiratory function indices-forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC ratios-were measured pre- and post-treatment, alongside levels of procalcitonin (PCT), soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1), miR-15b, and TGF-β1. Results demonstrated marked improvements in pulmonary function within the observation group, with significantly higher FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC values than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Additionally, the observation group exhibited greater reductions in PCT and sTREM-1, coupled with notable elevations in miR-15b and TGF-β1 levels. The combination therapy achieved a total response rate of 92.86%, significantly surpassing the control's 57.14% efficacy (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that Fluconazole combined with Amphotericin B not only enhances clinical efficacy by mitigating inflammation but also supports lung function recovery with a favourable safety profile, highlighting its utility in managing cryptococcal pneumonia effectively.