Prolonged survival and immune reconstitution after chagasic meningoencephalitis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

• Main Authors: Marcelo Corti, Claudio Yampolsky
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2006
• Subjects: Chagas' disease; Trypanosoma cruzi; Meningoencephalitis; AIDS; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doaj.org/article/bc12735259f24ac8b050b335b515a2a7

We report a case of cerebral meningoencephalitis due to Trypanosoma cruzi in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The patient presented with seizures and focal neurological signs. Definitive diagnosis of chagasic meningoencephalitis was made by demonstration of free trypomastigote forms in the cerebrospinal fluid. Benznidazol was prescribed with clinical and neurological improvement. Antiretroviral drugs improved cellular immunity and three years later the patient presents a good clinical condition with immune reconstitution and undetectable viral load. Chagasic meningoencephalitis has a poor prognosis when specific treatment is not initiated or is delayed. A high index of diagnosis is necessary for early diagnosis and treatment, especially in endemic areas for Trypanosoma cruzi infection.