Magnetic resonance imaging findings in human African trypanosomiasis: a four-year follow-up study in a patient and review of the literature.
Serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed up to 4 years after treatment in a patient with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection. Four years after treatment and cure abnormalities were still present, although the patient led a normal social life, without physical and mental impairments. The literature on MRI in human African trypanosomiasis is reviewed. The MRI is useful to discriminate between encephalitis induced by trypanosomiasis and post-treatment reactive encephalopathy, a severe and often fatal complication of treatment, in particular of treatment with arsenicals. The MRI is not useful for diagnosis of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT).
Kager
Piet A
PA
Center for Infection and Immunity, Department of Infectious Diseases, Tropical Medicine and AIDS, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.a.kager@amc.uva.nl
Schipper
Hans G
HG
Stam
Jan
J
Majoie
Charles B L M
CB
D000328:Adult; D000518:Eflornithine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D000518:Eflornithine