Toxoplasmic encephalitis and primary lymphoma of the brain--the shift in epidemiology: a case series and review of the literature.
With the advent of HAART, there has been a decline in the incidence of AIDS-defining illnesses. Despite this decline, we increasingly see patients who present with AIDS-defining illnesses similar to those seen during the early days of the HIV epidemic because patients are having difficulty in tolerating or adhering to their HAART regimens. In general, patients today are different: some are receiving prophylaxis to prevent HIV-related infections and many have experienced a more prolonged duration of immunosuppression resulting from intermittent use of HAART. We present 4 patients with neurologic symptoms and focal brain lesions and review and compare the diagnosis and treatment of toxoplasmic encephalitis with that of primary CNS lymphoma.
Olatinwo
T F
TF
State University of New York at Buffalo, USA.
Herbowy
M T
MT
Hewitt
R G
RG
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016483:Lymphoma, AIDS-Related / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon