Granulomatous amebic encephalitis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia successfully treated with multimodal antimicrobial therapy and hyperbaric oxygen

P Maritschnegg; P Sovinz; H Lackner; M Benesch; A Nebl; W Schwinger; J Walochnik; C Urban

doi:10.1128/JCM.01456-10

Granulomatous amebic encephalitis in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia successfully treated with multimodal antimicrobial therapy and hyperbaric oxygen

J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Jan;49(1):446-8. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01456-10. Epub 2010 Nov 17.

Authors

P Maritschnegg¹, P Sovinz, H Lackner, M Benesch, A Nebl, W Schwinger, J Walochnik, C Urban

Affiliation

¹ Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 30, 8036 Graz, Austria. peter.maritschnegg@meduni-graz.at

Abstract

Acanthamoeba is the causative agent of granulomatous amebic encephalitis, a rare and usually fatal disease. We report a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who developed brain abscesses caused by Acanthamoeba during induction therapy. Multimodal antimicrobial chemotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy resulted in complete resolution of symptoms and of pathology as seen by magnetic resonance imaging.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Acanthamoeba / genetics
Acanthamoeba / isolation & purification*
Amebiasis / diagnosis*
Amebiasis / parasitology
Antiprotozoal Agents / therapeutic use*
Brain / diagnostic imaging
Brain Abscess / diagnosis
Brain Abscess / parasitology
Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections / diagnosis*
Central Nervous System Protozoal Infections / parasitology
Child, Preschool
DNA, Protozoan / chemistry
DNA, Protozoan / genetics
Encephalitis / diagnosis
Encephalitis / parasitology
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Molecular Sequence Data
Oxygen / therapeutic use*
Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / complications*
Radiography
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Treatment Outcome

Substances

Antiprotozoal Agents
DNA, Protozoan
Oxygen

Associated data

GENBANK/HQ450394