title: Diagnosing central nervous system trypanosomiasis: two stage or not to stage?
abstract: One of the most difficult issues in the management of patients with human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is the reliable distinction between early-stage disease and late-stage disease where the trypanosomes have traversed the blood-brain barrier to enter the central nervous system (CNS). Currently, there is no universal consensus for the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings that define late-stage HAT and provide the rationale for treatment with toxic drugs for CNS disease. Whilst some clinicians use the WHO CSF criteria, others use alternative findings to define late-stage disease. Novel analyses in CSF of patients are urgently required for more accurate diagnostic staging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Glasgow, Institute of Neurological Sciences, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow G51 4TF, UK. p.g.kennedy@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
authors.forename: Peter G E
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D020808:Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D013129:Spinal Puncture; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D014344:Trypanocidal Agents