Transverse myelitis due to trypanosomiasis in a middle aged Tanzanian man.
We report the case of a middle aged Tanzanian man who developed a spinal cord syndrome over 6 weeks, along with a mild encephalopathy. Investigations ruled out the usual major causes of such a syndrome in our setting in northern Tanzania. Examination of his cerebrospinal fluid revealed trypanosomes, and he made a slow but dramatic improvement after a full course of suramine and melarsoprol. We postulate that he had a transverse myelitis due to African trypanosomiasis, a rare and barely recognised cause.
Kibiki
G S
GS
Department of Internal Medicine, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Tumaini University, Moshi, Tanzania.
Murphy
D K
DK
D000818:Animals; D003906:Developing Countries; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008549:Melarsoprol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D013498:Suramin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013636:Tanzania; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D013498:Suramin; D008549:Melarsoprol