Toxoplasmosis of the spinal cord in a patient with AIDS: case report and review

Clin Infect Dis. 1996 Nov;23(5):1061-5. doi: 10.1093/clinids/23.5.1061.

Abstract

We present the case of a patient whose acute myelopathy almost completely resolved with empirical therapy for toxoplasmosis, and we review thirteen previously reported cases of myelopathy thought to have been caused by Toxoplasma gondii in patients with AIDS. The most common symptoms and abnormal physical findings were motor loss (usually paraparesis), bilateral sensory loss, urinary bladder dysfunction, and local pain. The majority of patients had magnetic resonance images that showed abnormalities of the spinal cord and brain in association with positive serology for Toxoplasma. Therapy for toxoplasmosis, when administered soon after the onset of symptoms, has resulted in clinical and radiographic improvement in the conditions of patients with toxoplasmosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / pathology
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / physiopathology*
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / therapy
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Encephalitis / pathology
  • Encephalitis / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Myelitis / pathology
  • Myelitis / physiopathology*
  • Spinal Cord / abnormalities*
  • Spinal Cord / pathology
  • Toxoplasma / isolation & purification
  • Toxoplasmosis / pathology
  • Toxoplasmosis / physiopathology*
  • Toxoplasmosis / therapy