The objective of this article was to evaluate the epidemiology of cryptococcal 
meningitis in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, from 1994 to 2004. Six hundred and 
ninety-six cases of cryptococcal meningitis were reported, with a mean incidence 
of 0.45 per 100,000 inhabitants. Patients were predominantly male; mean age was 
35.9 years; AIDS was practically the only underlying disease, reported in 61.2% 
of cases; case-fatality was 51.8%. No decline in incidence was observed during 
the study period. AIDS is the main predisposing condition for cryptococcal 
meningitis, and thus the profile of most patients mirrors that of HIV infection. 
Missing information prevented the evaluation of other underlying diseases.