Erdheim-Chester Disease Involving the Central Nervous System with Latent Toxoplasmosis

Intern Med. 2022 Sep 1;61(17):2661-2666. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.8564-21. Epub 2022 Feb 8.

Abstract

Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare, non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis characterized by the infiltration of foamy histiocytes into multiple organs. We herein report a case of ECD with central nervous system (CNS) involvement in a 63-year-old man who also presented a positive result for Toxoplasma gondii nested polymerase chain reaction testing of cerebrospinal fluid. Since anti-Toxoplasma treatment proved completely ineffective, we presumed latent infection of the CNS with T. gondii. This case suggests the difficulty of distinguishing ECD with CNS involvement from toxoplasmic encephalitis and the possibility of a relationship between the pathogeneses of ECD and infection with T. gondii.

Keywords: Erdheim-Chester disease; Toxoplasma nested polymerase chain reaction; histiocytosis; neuro-oncology; toxoplasmosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Central Nervous System
  • Erdheim-Chester Disease* / complications
  • Erdheim-Chester Disease* / diagnosis
  • Erdheim-Chester Disease* / drug therapy
  • Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Toxoplasmosis*