Peter Redweik’s battle with cryptococcal meningitis, a severe inflammation of the brain caused by a fungal infection, seemed like a lost cause. The 58-year-old former competitive weightlifter was diagnosed with the deadly disease in August after experiencing unbearable headaches and slurred speech. Initially treated with amphotericin, his condition worsened due to the medication’s side effects, including damaged kidneys and vision loss.
Despite laboratory cultures showing no evidence of live fungus, Redweik’s symptoms persisted. Doctors were stumped, but a specialist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) named Dr. Williamson theorized that Redweik was suffering from an autoimmune reaction, known as post-infectious inflammatory response syndrome (PIIRS), which occurs in some previously healthy patients after the fungus is killed.
Williamson suspected that Redweik’s immune system still considered the fungus a threat, leading to another round of inflammation and new symptoms. He treated Redweik with large doses of steroids and antifungal medication, allowing his body to recover from the autoimmune response. Advanced technology at the NIH hospital enabled doctors to monitor Redweik’s immune response, confirming Williamson’s diagnosis.
After three weeks at the NIH, Redweik underwent rehab and returned home. While he still suffers from hearing loss, blindness, and kidney disease, he has regained weight and resumed his retired life with his wife, Joyce. Redweik credits Dr. Williamson’s unconventional treatment for saving his life, stating that he considers himself living a normal life despite the lingering effects of the illness.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/07/05/fungus-disease-cure-immune-nih