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[Acute toxoplasmosis with necrotizing vasculitis (author's transl)]
Annales De Medecine Interne
|January 1, 1979
Summary
Acute toxoplasmosis in a 31-year-old woman presented with polymyositis and necrotizing vasculitis. Treatment with spiramycin led to complete recovery, suggesting a link between toxoplasmosis and these inflammatory conditions.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurology
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection with diverse clinical manifestations.
- Polymyositis and necrotizing vasculitis are inflammatory conditions affecting muscles and blood vessels, respectively.
Observation:
- A 31-year-old Japanese woman presented with acute toxoplasmosis, high fever, distal polymyositis confirmed by EMG, and necrotizing arteritis in muscle arterioles.
- Initial treatment with prednisolone was ineffective.
Findings:
- Diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis was supported by serological markers (lysis titre, agglutinins, IgM, IgG).
- Muscle biopsy revealed inflammatory lesions and segmental necrotizing arteritis.
- Spiramycin treatment resulted in rapid resolution of fever and muscle symptoms.
Implications:
- This case highlights a potential association between acute toxoplasmosis, polymyositis, and necrotizing vasculitis.
- Immune complex deposition on arterial walls is suggested as a possible pathogenic mechanism.
- Successful treatment with spiramycin indicates its efficacy in managing this rare presentation of toxoplasmosis.