title: Cerebral toxoplasmosis in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
abstract: We examined the clinical and pathological features of 26 patients who presented with a diagnosis of CNS toxoplasmosis. Patient data was analyzed with respect to demographics, clinical presentation, treatment course and pathology. Patients presented with a wide variety of signs and symptoms. All patients had positive serum antitoxoplasma IgG; ring enhancing lesion(s) were present on all but one brain CT scans. A series of guidelines in the management of CNS toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients are presented. Prior to biopsy, patients with positive serology and characteristic CT scans should receive two weeks of treatment. Biopsy is indicated in those cases with negative serology, atypical presentation, progressive clinical deterioration, or differential response of lesions to empiric therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Carrazana
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rossitch
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Samuels
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011739:Pyrimethamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013411:Sulfadiazine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D013411:Sulfadiazine; D011739:Pyrimethamine