Transpl Infect Dis 2013 Dec;15(6):575-80

Analysis of cerebral toxoplasmosis in a series of 170 allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients.

Hakko E1, Ozkan HA, Karaman K, Gulbas Z.
Cerebral toxoplasmosis is a rare but fatal complication in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients, which mostly is caused by reactivation of latent disease.
l="INTRODUCTION" NlmCategory="BACKGROUND">Cerebral toxoplasmosis is a rare but fatal complication in hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients, which mostly is caused by reactivation of latent disease.

METHODS:

In this study, we report an analysis of cerebral toxoplasmosis in a series of 170 allogeneic stem cell transplant patients during a 30-month period at our institution.

RESULTS:

Among these allogeneic stem cell transplant patients, 5 were diagnosed with cerebral toxoplasmosis by brain magnetic resonance imaging and polymerase chain reaction of Toxoplasma gondii DNA. The incidence of cerebral toxoplasmosis was found to be 2.94%.

CONCLUSION:

Mortality rate is known to be very high in cerebral toxoplasmosis; therefore, it is life saving to diagnose the disease in the early stages and start treatment promptly, especially in high-endemic countries like Turkey.

© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.