title: Late-Onset Cerebral Toxoplasmosis After Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND Toxoplasmosis is an uncommon but potentially fatal complication following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Post-transplant toxoplasmosis is often a reactivation of prior infection and typically occurs within the first 6 months of transplant. Herein, we report that cerebral toxoplasmosis may occur 22 months after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. CASE REPORT We describe a case of cerebral toxoplasmosis that occurred 22 months after an allogeneic HCT while the patient was on aerosolized pentamidine for Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis. The disease was only diagnosed after brain biopsy because of atypical MRI appearance of the cerebral lesion and negative Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody test result in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The patient received pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine treatment, with dramatic improvement after several months. The patient is alive 2 years after infection diagnosis, with no evidence of disease and is off Toxoplasma prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS Cerebral toxoplasmosis can occur late after allogeneic HCT while patients are on immunosuppression therapy, with atypical features on imaging studies and negative Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody test result in the CSF. Pre-transplant serologic screening for T. gondii antibodies in allogeneic transplant candidates is warranted. Brain biopsy can be a helpful diagnostic tool for cerebral lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging Physics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Khalaf
authors.affiliation: Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.|Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mahmoud A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alsharabati
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fallon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology Section, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Joel K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Cure
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pappas
authors.affiliation: Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mineishi
authors.affiliation: Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Ayman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016781:Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy