title: Granulomatous amebic encephalitis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia successfully treated with multimodal antimicrobial therapy and hyperbaric oxygen.
abstract: Acanthamoeba is the causative agent of granulomatous amebic encephalitis, a rare and usually fatal disease. We report a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who developed brain abscesses caused by Acanthamoeba during induction therapy. Multimodal antimicrobial chemotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy resulted in complete resolution of symptoms and of pathology as seen by magnetic resonance imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 30, 8036 Graz, Austria. peter.maritschnegg@meduni-graz.at
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maritschnegg
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sovinz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lackner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benesch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nebl
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schwinger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walochnik
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Urban
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology; D020808:Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications*; D011859:Radiography; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D010100:Oxygen