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Successful treatment of toxoplasmic encephalitis diagnosed early by polymerase chain reaction after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: two case reports and review of the literature
Author(s) -
Miyagi T.,
Itonaga H.,
Aosai F.,
Taguchi J.,
Norose K.,
Mochizuki K.,
Fujii H.,
Furumoto A.,
Ohama M.,
Karimata K.,
Yamanoha A.,
Taniguchi H.,
Sato S.,
Taira N.,
Moriuchi Y.,
Fukushima T.,
Masuzaki H.,
Miyazaki Y.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
transplant infectious disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.69
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1399-3062
pISSN - 1398-2273
DOI - 10.1111/tid.12401
Subject(s) - medicine , hematopoietic stem cell transplantation , polymerase chain reaction , stem cell , transplantation , encephalitis , hematopoietic cell , immunology , haematopoiesis , virus , genetics , gene , biology
Toxoplasmic encephalitis represents a rare, but often fatal infection after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Polymerase chain reaction ( PCR )‐based preemptive therapy is considered promising for this disease, but is not routinely applied, especially in low seroprevalence countries including Japan. We encountered 2 cases of toxoplasmic encephalitis after transplantation that were successfully treated. The diagnosis of toxoplasmic encephalitis in these cases was confirmed by PCR testing when neurological symptoms were observed. Both patients received pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine treatments within 2 weeks of the development of neurological symptoms, and remained free of recurrence for 32 and 12 months. These results emphasized the importance of the PCR test and immediate treatment after diagnosis for the management of toxoplasmic encephalitis.