[Cerebral toxoplasmosis in subjects with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]

Cerebral toxoplasmosis is the most common cause of focal CNS disease complicating AIDS and may afflict 10% to 33% of such patients. We present the clinical, neuroradiological and immunological findings in 5 cases with cerebral toxoplasmosis complicating the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. All patients had focal neurological signs and symptoms; CT scan findings included single or multiple lesions with ring contrast enhancement, mass effect and oedema. CSF analysis showed increased protein levels, decreased glucose levels and pleocytosis; CSF IgG antitoxoplasma antibodies were positive in 4 patients; serum IgG antitoxoplasma antibodies were positive in all patients, while IgM resulted always negative in serum and in CSF. After therapy, in 2 cases CT scans showed small areas of encephalomalacia replacing the abscesses. We think that non-invasive techniques (CT scans, CSF and serum immunochemical tests) together with the finding of a favourable response to therapy may be useful for the diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis, allowing to avoid invasive technique such as cerebral biopsy.