[Central nervous system histoplasmosis]. 2009

Masashi Hamada, and Shoji Tsuji
Department of Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, Graduated School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.

Central nervous system (CNS) histoplasmosis is one of the important endemic mycoses in America and Africa. Although the incidence of CNS histplasmosis in non-endemic areas is increasing, the diagnosis of isolated CNS histoplasmosis in these areas remains challenging. Since the diagnosis is often missed, the outcome of CNS histoplasmosis is occasionally poor. One of the important complications of this condition is hydrocephalus, which may be identified before meningitis is diagnosed. Antigen or serological tests are useful for the diagnosis of CNS histoplasmosis; however, it should be noted that false positive results may be obtained because of cross reactions due to infections by other fungi. Further, repeated culture with a large volume of cerebrospinal fluid is essential because of the low sensitivity of culture. Thus, it is recommended that tests for CNS histplasmosis be repeated, even if negative results are obtained initially. Liposomal amphotericin B is the usual initial therapy for CNS histoplasmosis. However, the rate of failure of initial treatment is high and relapse can occur in the next few years, which calls for careful management of patients with CNS histoplasmosis. Continued therapy with antifungal agents such as fluconazole or itraconazole is often required. We report a case of a patient with chronic meningitis in whom the tests for other causes were negative for about 10 years, and who was eventually diagnosed with CNS histoplasmosis. Treatment with fluconazole was initiated, and the patient's symptoms gradually improved. Further cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and brain computed tomography (CT) during the follow-up period of 2 years and 9 months did not reveal recurrence of meningitis or hydrocephalus, thereby indicating the successful treatment of CNS histoplasmosis with fluconazole. CNS histoplasmosis should always be included in the differential diagnoses of chronic meningitis in non-endemic areas even in the case of immunocompetent individuals.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D002555 Cerebrospinal Fluid A watery fluid that is continuously produced in the CHOROID PLEXUS and circulates around the surface of the BRAIN; SPINAL CORD; and in the CEREBRAL VENTRICLES. Cerebro Spinal Fluid,Cerebro Spinal Fluids,Cerebrospinal Fluids,Fluid, Cerebro Spinal,Fluid, Cerebrospinal,Fluids, Cerebro Spinal,Fluids, Cerebrospinal,Spinal Fluid, Cerebro,Spinal Fluids, Cerebro
D003937 Diagnosis, Differential Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D003952 Diagnostic Imaging Any visual display of structural or functional patterns of organs or tissues for diagnostic evaluation. It includes measuring physiologic and metabolic responses to physical and chemical stimuli, as well as ultramicroscopy. Imaging, Diagnostic,Imaging, Medical,Medical Imaging
D005260 Female Females
D006660 Histoplasmosis Infection resulting from exposure to the fungus HISTOPLASMA. African Histoplasmosis,Disseminated Histoplasmosis,Histoplasma duboisii Infection,Pulmonary Histoplasmosis,Histoplasma Infection,Histoplasma capsulatum Infection,Histoplasma Infections,Histoplasma capsulatum Infections,Histoplasma duboisii Infections,Histoplasmosis, African,Histoplasmosis, Disseminated,Histoplasmosis, Pulmonary,Infection, Histoplasma,Infection, Histoplasma capsulatum,Infection, Histoplasma duboisii
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000935 Antifungal Agents Substances that destroy fungi by suppressing their ability to grow or reproduce. They differ from FUNGICIDES, INDUSTRIAL because they defend against fungi present in human or animal tissues. Anti-Fungal Agents,Antifungal Agent,Fungicides, Therapeutic,Antibiotics, Antifungal,Therapeutic Fungicides,Agent, Antifungal,Anti Fungal Agents,Antifungal Antibiotics
D012698 Serologic Tests Diagnostic procedures involving immunoglobulin reactions. Serodiagnosis,Serologic Test,Serological Tests,Test, Serologic,Tests, Serologic,Serodiagnoses,Serological Test,Test, Serological,Tests, Serological
D015725 Fluconazole Triazole antifungal agent that is used to treat oropharyngeal CANDIDIASIS and cryptococcal MENINGITIS in AIDS. Apo-Fluconazole,Béagyne,Diflucan,Fluc Hexal,FlucoLich,Flucobeta,Fluconazol AL,Fluconazol AbZ,Fluconazol Stada,Fluconazol von ct,Fluconazol-Isis,Fluconazol-ratiopharm,Flunazul,Fungata,Lavisa,Loitin,Neofomiral,Oxifungol,Solacap,Triflucan,UK-49858,Zonal,Apo Fluconazole,Fluconazol Isis,Fluconazol ratiopharm,UK 49858,UK49858

Related Publications

Masashi Hamada, and Shoji Tsuji
May 2008, Current treatment options in neurology,
Masashi Hamada, and Shoji Tsuji
December 1979, Southern medical journal,
Masashi Hamada, and Shoji Tsuji
July 1992, Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry,
Masashi Hamada, and Shoji Tsuji
February 1953, Journal of the American Medical Association,
Masashi Hamada, and Shoji Tsuji
September 1974, Neurology,
Masashi Hamada, and Shoji Tsuji
January 1955, The American journal of pathology,
Masashi Hamada, and Shoji Tsuji
January 2018, Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical,
Masashi Hamada, and Shoji Tsuji
May 1978, The American journal of medicine,
Masashi Hamada, and Shoji Tsuji
May 2023, Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland),
Masashi Hamada, and Shoji Tsuji
March 2005, Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America,
Copied contents to your clipboard!