scholarly journals Central Nervous System Involvement in Trichinellosis: A Systematic Review

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 945
Author(s):  
Elena Cecilia Rosca ◽  
Raluca Tudor ◽  
Amalia Cornea ◽  
Mihaela Simu

We reviewed the evidence on features of central nervous system (CNS) involvement in trichinellosis, systematically searching five databases (to January 2021). We categorized clinical features based on their diagnostic value as warning signs for severe CNS infection (with outcome death) or non-specific signs (outcome improvement). They were suggestive of severe infection if they substantially raised death probability. The review included 87 papers published from 1906 through 2019, with data on 168 patients. Mydriasis, paraparesis, dysphagia, psychomotor seizures, or delirium present a 30–45% increased death likelihood. The best poor prognosis predictor is mydriasis (positive likelihood ratio 9.08). Slow/absent light reflex, diminished/absent knee reflexes, globally decreased tendon reflexes present a moderate increase (20–25%) of death risk. Anisocoria, acalculia, or seizures could also indicate an increased death risk. We provided a detailed presentation of clinical and paraclinical signs that alert physicians of a possible neurotrichinellosis, emphasizing signs that might indicate a poor prognosis.

1993 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Eymard Homem Pittella

A review was made of the available literature on central nervous system (CNS) involvement in Chagas' disease. Thirty-one works concerning the acute nervous form and 17 others dealing with the chronic nervous form, all presenting neuropathologic studies, were critically analysed. Based on this analysis, an attempt was made to establish the possible natural history of CNS involvement in Chagas' disease. Among others, the following facts stand out: 1) the initial, acute phase of Trypanosoma cruzi infection is usually asymptomatic and subclinical; 2) only a small percentage of cases develop encephalitis in the acute phase of Chagas' disease; 3) the symptomatic acute forms accompanied by chagasic encephalitis are grave, with death ensuing in virtually all cases as a result of the brain lesions per se or of acute chagasic myocarditis, this being usually intense and always present; 4) individuals with the asymptomatic acute form and with the mild symptomatic acute form probably have no CNS infection or, in some cases, they may have discrete encephalitis in sparse foci. In the latter case, regression of the lesions may be total, or residual inflammatory nodules of relative insignificance may persist. Thus, no anatomical basis exists that might characterize the existence of a chronic nervous form of Chagas' disease; 5) reactivation of the CNS infection in the chronic form of Chagas' disease is uncommon and occurs only in immunosuppressed patients.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 721-728
Author(s):  
Garrett L. Jensen ◽  
Bouthaina S. Dabaja ◽  
Chelsea C. Pinnix ◽  
Jillian R. Gunther ◽  
Auris Huen ◽  
...  

Background: Involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) by mycosis fungoides (MF) is rare; however, it portends a poor prognosis. While aggressive multimodality therapy may improve outcomes, the role of radiation therapy (RT) is not well defined. Objectives: We sought to explore the efficacy of RT in the management of CNS involvement by MF. Method: We retrospectively identified five patients with MF and CNS involvement who received cranial or craniospinal RT at a single institution. Patient characteristics, disease features, radiographic findings, treatments delivered, and outcome data were extracted from the electronic medical record. Results: All 5 patients had neurologic deficits at RT initiation, and 4 experienced at least a partial improvement. Of 4 patients evaluated by MRI after RT completion, 3 had complete resolution of CNS disease within the irradiated field. At the time of last follow-up, all patients had died of MF. The median time to death was 7.4 months (range 1.0–21 months) from their diagnosis with CNS involvement and 1.2 months (range 0.4–7.1 months) from the end of RT treatment. Conclusions: We observed high rates of radiographic response and palliation of neurological symptoms. Nonetheless, all patients succumbed to their disease shortly after treatment, confirming the poor prognosis of this condition. Our findings suggest that RT may play a valuable palliative role for these patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 402-409
Author(s):  
Ashraf Omer Elamin Ahmed ◽  
Mona Mohammad Ibraheem Babikir ◽  
Amir Elssoni Mahjoup Khojali ◽  
Suresh Nalaka Menik Arachchige ◽  
Abdirahman Mohamud Abdirahman ◽  
...  

<i>Mycobacteria pneumoniae</i> (MP) commonly causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections. The clinical manifestation is classified as pulmonary and extrapulmonary. These manifestations vary according to the involved system. MP may affect one system or more at a time. Commonly prodromal respiratory symptoms precede systemic involvement. Central nervous system involvement in uncommon. This report is presenting a rare case of central nervous system vasculitis secondary to MP, highlighting the diagnosis and management with a succinct literature review.


Author(s):  
Aluisio Rosa Gameiro Filho ◽  
Guilherme Sturzeneker ◽  
Ever Ernesto Caso Rodriguez ◽  
André Maia ◽  
Melina Correia Morales ◽  
...  

Abstract Background To report a case of acute exudative polymorphous paraneoplastic vitelliform maculopathy in a patient with a history of choroidal melanoma, with metastases to the pancreas, liver, and central nervous system. Case presentation A 63-year-old patient, with a history of enucleation of the right eye due to choroidal melanoma, complained of progressive visual loss during a follow-up visit. Fundoscopic examination revealed multiple small areas of serous retinal detachment scattered throughout the posterior pole and ancillary tests confirmed the diagnosis of acute exudative polymorphous paraneoplastic vitelliform maculopathy (AEPPVM). Screening for systemic metastases showed pancreatic, hepatic, and central nervous system involvement. Conclusions We describe a rare case of acute exudative polymorphous paraneoplastic vitelliform maculopathy, which should be considered in patients with or without a history of melanoma, who have vitelliform retinal detachments. Nevertheless, no previous reviews of literature have shown a correlation between AEPPVM and pancreatic metastasis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuchen Wu ◽  
Xuefei Sun ◽  
Xueyan Bai ◽  
Jun Qian ◽  
Hong Zhu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Secondary central nervous system lymphoma (SCNSL) is defined as lymphoma involvement within the central nervous system (CNS) that originated elsewhere, or a CNS relapse of systemic lymphoma. Prognosis of SCNSL is poor and the most appropriate treatment is still undetermined. Methods We conducted a retrospective study to assess the feasibility of an R-MIADD (rituximab, high-dose methotrexate, ifosfamide, cytarabine, liposomal formulation of doxorubicin, and dexamethasone) regimen for SCNSL patients. Results Nineteen patients with newly diagnosed CNS lesions were selected, with a median age of 58 (range 20 to 72) years. Out of 19 patients, 11 (57.9%) achieved complete remission (CR) and 2 (10.5%) achieved partial remission (PR); the overall response rate was 68.4%. The median progression-free survival after CNS involvement was 28.0 months (95% confidence interval 11.0–44.9), and the median overall survival after CNS involvement was 34.5 months. Treatment-related death occurred in one patient (5.3%). Conclusions These single-centered data underscore the feasibility of an R-MIADD regimen as the induction therapy of SCNSL, further investigation is warranted.


Author(s):  
Kristin N Varhaug ◽  
Omar Hikmat ◽  
Hanne Linda Nakkestad ◽  
Christian A Vedeler ◽  
Laurence A Bindoff

Abstract The aim of this study was to explore the utility of the serum biomarkers neurofilament light chain (NF-L), fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) and growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) in diagnosing primary mitochondrial disorders. We measured serum NF-L, FGF-21 and GDF-15 in 26 patients with a genetically proven mitochondrial disease. FGF-21 and GDF-15 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and NF-L with the Simoa assay. NF-L was highest in patients with multisystemic involvement that included the central nervous system such as those with the m.3242A&gt;G mutation. Mean NF-L was also highest in patients with epilepsy versus those without (49.74 pg/ml versus 19.7 pg/ml (p = 0.015)), while FGF-21 and GDF-15 levels were highest in patients with prominent myopathy, such as those with single mitochondrial DNA deletion. Our results suggest that the combination of NF-L, FGF-21 and GDF-15 is useful in the diagnostic evaluation of mitochondrial disease. GDF-15 and FGF-21 identify those with muscle involvement while NF-L is a clear marker for central nervous system involvement independent of underlying mitochondrial pathology. Levels of NF-L appear to correlate with the degree of ongoing damage suggesting, therefore, that monitoring NF-L levels may provide prognostic information and a way of monitoring disease activity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 90 (e7) ◽  
pp. A15.2-A15
Author(s):  
Sophie E Waller ◽  
Sarah Browning ◽  
Elizabeth Pepper

IntroductionCutibacterium acnes is a Gram positive, anaerobic bacterium of low pathogenic potential that forms part of the normal cutaneous flora. Although most often identified as a contaminant in culture of microbiological specimens, it is commonly implicated in both postoperative wound and implantable device infection. Neurosurgical device infections secondary to C. acnes are well recognised and are likely secondary to bacterial contamination from the skin during surgery. Indolent infection characterised by delayed presentation of weeks to months following intervention is common. C. acnes infection involving the central nervous system (CNS) in the absence of previous neurosurgical intervention is rare, but has been described following dental or mastoid infections and following facial trauma. A further case series has reported de novo C. acnes CNS infection occurring in the absence of these recognised risk factors, but with clinical features of meningitis being common to all.Methods and resultsWe describe a unique case of primary C. acnes extra-dural collection in a previously well patient with no neurosurgical history presenting with sub-acute focal seizures and progressive focal leptomeningeal thickening on MRI.ConclusionC. acnes CNS infection can occur in the immunocompetent and in the absence of neurosurgical intervention.


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