1/2. Recurrent optic neuritis associated with chlamydia pneumoniae infection of the central nervous system.It has been suggested that chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) is involved in the pathogenesis of diverse diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), including multiple sclerosis. We report the case of a 12-year-old male with isolated recurrent optic neuritis and an associated CNS infection with C. pneumoniae. The patient presented with three attacks of optic neuritis within 5 months. A positive polymerase chain reaction for C. pneumoniae in the cerebrospinal fluid led to the diagnosis of a CNS infection with C. pneumoniae. After treatment with the antibiotic rifampicin, he experienced no further attacks during the follow-up period of 6 years. These findings suggest the possibility of a C. pneumoniae infection as a contributing factor or even causative event for the development of optic neuritis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/2. Disseminated invasive aspergillosis in a patient with acute leukaemia.A 46-year-old previously healthy woman was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The induction phase was complicated by alpha-haemolytic streptococcal bacteremia which responded to antibacterial therapy. Subsequently, the patient developed pneumonie due to Chlamydiapneumoniae which responded to macrolides. Following this infection the patient developed recurrent fever and new pulmonary infiltrates were noted. bronchoscopy was performed and treatment was administered with liposomal amphotericin b (L-AmB, AmBisome) for two days, but was complicated by acute renal failure. aspergillus fumigatus was cultured from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid [corrected] L-AmB was discontinued and voriconazole and caspofungin were administered. Despite aggressive antifungal therapy the patient developed progressive invasive infection, with central nervous system involvement as well as lesions appearing in the kidneys and liver. The patient died one week following the diagnosis of aspergillosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = central nervous system, nervous system (Clic here for more details about this article) |