Aim: The aim of this trial was to evaluate the effects of albendazole (ALB) on cyst disappearance, reduction of the number of cysts and seizure recurrence. Methods: 178 patients with new onset symptoms due to active or transitional neurocysticercosis were randomly assigned to receive either 800 mg of ALB daily or placebo for 8 days. All patients also received prednisone. Imaging studies were done at baseline and at months 1, 6 and 12 of follow-up. Results: Active cysts were identified in 59 of 88 people randomised to ALB and 57 of the 90 in the placebo arm. By 1 month, 31% were free of active cysts in the treatment group compared with 7% in the placebo group (p = 0.001). In addition, the ALB group had a greater reduction in the number of active cysts compared with the placebo group (p = 0.001). After 1 month following treatment there was no additional gain by treatment group in the disappearance or reduction in the number of active cysts. ALB treatment had little effect on cysts in the transitional or calcification stage. We found no difference between the ALB and placebo groups in symptoms during treatment or in seizure recurrence during the 12 months after treatment. Conclusion: Albendazole plus symptomatic treatment leads to the disappearance of active cysts in 31% of patients compared with 7% of those with symptomatic treatment alone. This treatment effect occurs within the first 30 days after treatment.

Effects of albendazole treatment on neurocysticercosis : a randomised controlled trial. Commentary

Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an uncommon, potentially fatal, hyperinflammatory syndrome that may rarely complicate the clinical course of disseminated Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). The clinical course of tuberculosis-associated HLH (TB-HLH) has been reported to be unpredictable. Materials and Methods: Here we describe the clinicopathological features, laboratory parameters, management, and outcome data of a patient who satisfied the 2004 diagnostic criteria for HLH secondary to disseminated MTB; we also do a systematic review of the international literature on TB-HLH. The literature review (January 1975–March 2014) found that HLH complicated the clinical course of 63 tuberculosis patients (41 males, 22 females, mean age = 45 ± 23.5 years) with a high mortality rate of 49% (31/63 died). The mean serum ferritin level (n = 44/63) was 5963 ng/mL (range 500–38,539 ng/mL); and a higher proportion (54.2%) of patients had pancytopenia at presentation. On univariate analysis (n = 53/63), age >30 years [hazard ratio (HR): 2.79, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.03–7.56, P = 0.03], presence of comorbidities (HR 4.59, CI: 1.08–19.52, P = 0.04), marked hemophagocytosis in bone marrow (HR: 2.65, CI: 1.16–6.05, P = 0.02), and nonusage/delayed usage of antitubercular therapy (ATT) (HR: 3.44, CI: 1.51–7.87, P = 0.003) were associated with decreased survival, though none of these parameters attained statistical significance (P > 0.05) in multivariate analysis. Usage of corticosteroids and/or immunomodulator drugs (HR 1.00, CI: 0.66–3.22, P = 0.35) did not alter the outcome in these patients. Conclusion: HLH should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with tuberculosis who present with cytopenias, organomegaly, and coagulopathy. Strong clinical suspicion and early usage of ATT might be useful in reducing the morbidity and mortality. The utility of immunosuppressive/immunomodulator therapy lacks general concensus among treating physicians, and warrants further studies.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: An unusual complication in disseminated Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Background Ataxia-telangiectasia is an autosomal recessive, multi-system, and life-shortening disease caused by mutations in the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene. Although widely reported, there are no studies that give a comprehensive picture of this intriguing condition. Objectives Understand the natural history of ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), as reported in scientific literature. Search methods 107 search terms were identified and divided into 17 searches. Each search was performed in PubMed, Ovid SP (MEDLINE) 1946-present, OVID EMBASE 1980 –present, Web of Science core collection, Elsevier Scopus, and Cochrane Library. Selection criteria All human studies that report any aspect of A-T. Data collection and analysis Search results were de-duplicated, data extracted (including author, publication year, country of origin, study design, population, participant characteristics, and clinical features). Quality of case-control and cohort studies was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa tool. Findings are reported descriptively and where possible data collated to report median (interquartile range, range) of outcomes of interest. Main results 1314 cases reported 2134 presenting symptoms. The most common presenting symptom was abnormal gait (1160 cases; 188 studies) followed by recurrent infections in classical ataxia-telangiectasia and movement disorders in variant ataxia-telangiectasia. 687 cases reported 752 causes of death among which malignancy was the most frequently reported cause. Median (IQR, range) age of death (n = 294) was 14 years 0 months (10 years 0 months to 23 years 3 months, 1 year 3 months to 76 years 0 months). Conclusions This review demonstrates the multi-system involvement in A-T, confirms that neurological symptoms are the most frequent presenting features in classical A-T but variants have diverse manifestations. We found that most individuals with A-T have life limited to teenage or early adulthood. Predominance of case reports, and case series demonstrate the lack of robust evidence to determine the natural history of A-T. We recommend population-based studies to fill this evidence gap.

/pdf/the-natural-history-of-ataxia-telangiectasia-a-t-a-3jtn1uxn.pdf

The natural history of ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T): A systematic review

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) can seriously affect the hematopoietic system, with involvement of both myeloid and lymphoid cell lines as well as plasma components. These hematological changes act as a marker for the diagnosis, prognosis and response to therapy. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and WHO websites from 1950 to May 2021 for papers on the interaction between TB and common and rare hematological manifestation. Results: Hematological reactions in patients with TB are possible in both young and old women and men but seem more frequent in the elderly, and they can be predictors of both diagnosis and worse outcome for TB, regardless of whether it is pulmonary, extra pulmonary or miliary. Even anti-TB therapies can cause hematological adverse events, among which some are serious and rare and can compromise the patient’s recovery pathway to completing treatment. Conclusion: Hematological screening and follow-up, including complete blood count and coagulation, are always necessary both at the diagnosis of TB and during antitubercular treatment in order to monitor hematological parameters. Short therapy regimens for multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) may also be useful for reducing hematological toxicity, especially in contexts where this cannot be monitored. Close monitoring of drug interactions and hematological adverse events is always recommended.

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/7/1477/pdf

Common and Rare Hematological Manifestations and Adverse Drug Events during Treatment of Active TB: A State of Art.

Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection is usually observed in patients with immunosuppressive conditions. It may also cause unregulated immune responses. While there have been increasing numbers of reported tuberculosis-related HPS (haemophagocytic syndrome), HPS caused by NTM infection is still very rarely reported. We report a previously healthy 21-year-old Chinese female with fever, night sweats and fatigue, in whom HPS was diagnosed according to the HLH-2004 criteria. Mycobacterium intracellulare was cultured from her peripheral blood. After treatment with corticosteroid, clarithromycin, rifampicin, ethambutol and amikacin, the patient finally recovered. We also reviewed relevant publications on NTM infection complicated with HPS and found 11 cases, including ours. Clinical presentations, diagnoses and prognoses were analysed and summarized to deepen our understanding of this rare condition. Most reported NTM-related cases were caused by disseminated infection. The lack of localized symptoms might add to the difficulty involved in making the right diagnosis. While it usually takes time to obtain tissue or blood culture results, granuloma in a bone marrow biopsy might be an early indicator of possible mycobacterial infection. Although treatment varied, the overall prognosis of NTM-related HPS was promising.

/pdf/nontuberculous-mycobacterium-infection-complicated-with-1tano43y7k.pdf

Nontuberculous Mycobacterium infection complicated with Haemophagocytic syndrome: a case report and literature review

Ataxia telangiectasia is an early onset neurodegenerative disorder. We report a case of childhood onset ataxia and ocular telangiectasia, presenting with pulmonary infection. The patient was diagnosed as ataxia telangiectasia. The patient succumbed to death owing to late diagnosis and sepsis.

https://casereports.bmj.com/content/casereports/2012/bcr-2012-007246.full.pdf

Ataxia telangiectasia: learning from previous mistakes.

Echinococcus and Taenia infection are the two most relevant forms of cestode infection in humans. These infections occur worldwide, but with higher prevalence in developing countries like India, where poor hygiene facilitates their transmission. We report a case of a middle-aged man who presented with seizures and was found to have dual worm infection including Taenia and Echinococcus. The patient was treated with steroids and albendazole followed by PAIR (puncture, aspiration, injection of scolicidal agent and reaspiration). After 6 months of follow-up, the patient is asymptomatic and seizure-free without any relapse.

/pdf/mixed-cestode-infection-an-incidental-association-in-an-5c36nkgtsu.pdf

Mixed cestode infection: an incidental association in an immunocompetent person.

Malaria continues to dominate the scene involving the infectious diseases even though the figures suggest that the incidence of malaria is decreasing. Transmitted by the bite of the anopheles mosquito, malaria has undergone varying epidemiological and clinical changes with Plasmodium vivax malaria becoming complicated along with the Falciparum malaria with multi-organ involvement and can be fatal at times. Early and accurate diagnosis of malaria is imperative for effective management. More recently, Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) have been introduced into routine use, and molecular methods like polymerase chain reaction are useful in certain situation. Artemesinin based combination therapy have become the drug of choice especially for complicated malaria with Synriam being the latest addition which is a fixed dose formulation containing the short acting arterolane and long acting piperaquine.

Changing Clinical Spectrum and Virulence of P. vivax

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), also called haemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is characterised by a dysregulated activation and proliferation of macrophages, leading to uncontrolled phagocytosis of platelets, erythrocytes, lymphocytes and their haematopoietic precursors throughout the reticuloendothelial system. Mycobacterium tuberculosis-associated HPS is a rare and underdiagnosed association. We report a 34-year-old male patient diagnosed with tubercular pleural effusion responding poorly to antitubercular treatment. Patient later developed generalised lymphadenopathy, pancytopaenia and liver dysfunction and was eventually diagnosed as HLH. Despite being treated as per HLH protocol 2004 he could not be saved.

/pdf/haemophagocytic-lymphohistiocytosis-a-cause-for-rare-but-k6lj55h7ds.pdf

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a cause for rare but fatal outcome in tuberculosis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease with diverse manifestations. Tuberculosis is known to induce and exacerbate SLE and it becomes quite difficult to diagnose tuberculosis in this setting, owing to a similar, overlapping presentation of tuberculosis and SLE. We report a case of disseminated tuberculosis in a patient with antinuclear antibody-negative SLE. Treatment was started with antitubercular drugs together with hydroxychloroquine and steroid. After 6 months of follow-up the patient recovered with treatment.

/pdf/disseminated-tuberculosis-in-a-patient-with-antinuclear-2u1e9b0tia.pdf

Disseminated tuberculosis in a patient with antinuclear antibody-negative systemic lupus erythematosus: a rare association

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