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Published on: December 9, 2014
Resolution of intracranial calcifications in infants with treated congenital toxoplasmosis
D V Patel1, E M Holfels, N P Vogel
1Department of Radiology, Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago, IL 60616, USA.
Purpose:
To determine the natural history of intracranial calcifications in infants with treated congenital toxoplasmosis.
Materials And Methods:
Between January 1982 and March 1994, cranial computed tomography was performed in 56 infants with treated congenital toxoplasmosis when they were newborns and approximately 1 year old. Locations and sizes of intracranial calcifications were noted.
Results:
Forty newborns had intracranial calcifications. By 1 year of age, calcifications diminished or resolved in 30 (75%) and remained stable in 10 (25%) of these treated infants. Ten (33%) of the 30 infants whose calcifications diminished versus seven (70%) of the 10 infants with stable calcifications received less intensive antimicrobial treatment than the other treated infants. In contrast, a small number of infants who were untreated or treated 1 month or less had intracranial calcifications that increased or remained stable during their 1st year of life.
Conclusion:
Diminution or resolution of intracranial calcifications was an unexpected and remarkable finding in infants with treated, congenital toxoplasmosis, consonant with their improved neurologic functioning.
