Brain tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in an HIV-positive patient: a biopsy-proven
Maria Letizia Giancola1, Francesco Baldini, Carmine Maria Carapella
1National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. mletizia.giancola@inmi.it.
The case of an HIV-infected man from Eritrea previously diagnosed with tuberculosis, who presented neurological impairment and cerebral lesion after having voluntarily stopped anti-tubercular and antiretroviral therapies, is here reported. Treatments associated with steroids and mannitol were administered. The patient's condition improved, but neuroimaging showed a continuous worsening of the lesion, while a great immunological reconstitution was observed. Brain microsurgery was performed. A tuberculosis diagnosis was supported by pathological and microbiological examinations. Tuberculosis arising during immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome is a complication of antiretroviral treatment and is considered to be an emerging disorder, especially in countries highly endemic for tuberculosis.
The case of an HIV-infected man from Eritrea previously diagnosed with tuberculosis, who presented neurological impairment and cerebral lesion after having voluntarily stopped anti-tubercular and antiretroviral therapies, is here reported. Treatments associated with steroids and mannitol were administered. The patient's condition improved, but neuroimaging showed a continuous worsening of the lesion, while a great immunological reconstitution was observed. Brain microsurgery was performed. A tuberculosis diagnosis was supported by pathological and microbiological examinations. Tuberculosis arising during immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome is a complication of antiretroviral treatment and is considered to be an emerging disorder, especially in countries highly endemic for tuberculosis.
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