La clínica en el diagnóstico de la neurotoxoplasmosis / Clinic in the diagnosis of neurotoxoplasmosis

RESUMEN La toxoplasmosis cerebral o neurotoxoplasmosis es una de las infecciones oportunistas más frecuentes en los pacientes positivos al VIH. Se produce aproximadamente en el 10 % de los pacientes con sida no tratados. La localización de la infección, causada por el parásito Toxoplasma gondii, indica inmunodeficiencia severa, con linfocitos T CD4+ menor a 100 cel/mm3. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir la evolución clínica e imagenológica de un paciente con diagnóstico de neurotoxoplasmosis, atendido en el Hospital Militar Dr. Carlos J. Finlay: hombre de 33 años, con síntomas neurológicos focales, sin factor de riesgo vascular, con estudios de imagen sugestiva de proceso expansivo intracraneal. Durante su ingreso se recibe el resultado de positivo al VIH y se interpreta como una neurotoxoplasmosis. Se empleó tratamiento antiparasitario con mejoría del trastorno neurológico y de las neuroimágenes. Ante un paciente con VIH y síntomas neurológicos focales se debe pensar en una neurotoxoplasmosis. La respuesta al tratamiento en el caso estudiado confirmó el diagnóstico (AU).

ABSTRACT Cerebral toxoplasmosis or neurotoxoplasmosis is one of the most common opportunistic infections in HIV-positive patients. It occurs in approximately 10 % of untreated AIDS patients. The location of the infection, caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, indicates severe immunodeficiency, with CD4+ T lymphocytes less than 100 cell/mm3. The objective of this work was to describe the clinical and imaging evolution of a patient with diagnosis of neurotoxoplasmosis, attended at the Military Hospital Dr. Carlos J. Finlay: 33-year-old man, with focal neurological symptoms, without vascular risk factor, with studies of suggestive imaging of intracranial expansive process. During admission, the HIV positive result is received and interpreted as a neurotoxoplasmosis. Antiparasitic treatment was used with improvement of neurological disorder and neuroimagens. In the case of a patient with HIV and focal neurological symptoms doctors should think about neurotoxoplasmosis. The response to treatment in the case studied confirmed the diagnosis (AU).

Toxoplasmic encephalitis in the AIDS patient.

Toxoplasmic encephalitis is recognized as a major cause of opportunistic infection of the central nervous system in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Often this protozoal infection is benign, but in the AIDS patient it can cause life-threatening complications. Usually, toxoplasmic encephalitis is a latent infection activated in the brain in some 5% to 15% of AIDS patients. Treatment with oral antibiotics is effective, but relapse is common, and there may be permanent brain tissue damage with resultant neurological deficits. This article acquaints the rehabilitation nurse with the diagnosis and acute nursing care of toxoplasmic encephalitis. Rehabilitation nurses need to know about this chronic condition because rehabilitation is key to its successful long-term care and management.