Current Infectious Disease Reports

, Volume 2, Issue 4, pp 358–362 | Cite as

Central nervous system toxoplasmosis in HIV pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy

  • Benjamin J. Luft
  • Arlene Chua
Article

Abstract

In patients with HIV, Toxoplasma gondii is the most frequent infectious cause of focal brain lesions. Particularly in advanced HIV disease, it can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Current clinical practice involves empiric therapy with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, upon a presumptive diagnosis of toxoplasmic encephalitis, based on serologic, clinical, and radiological features. This approach continues to evolve, as new diagnostic strategies, such as the use of immunoglobulin G antibody titers and polymerase chain reaction, prophylaxis against opportunistic infections, and highly active antiretroviral therapy—HAART—come into play. Primary and secondary prophylaxis are the mainstay of treatment. There remains a continuing need for development of new anti-Toxoplasma therapy.

Keywords

Toxoplasmosis Antimicrob Agent Sulfadiazine Pyrimethamine Toxoplasma Gondii 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Current Science Inc 2000

Authors and Affiliations

  • Benjamin J. Luft
    • 1
  • Arlene Chua
    • 2
  1. 1.Department of MedicineUniversity Hospital, T16, 020 Health Science CenterStony BrookUSA
  2. 2.Division of Infectious DiseasesState University of New York at Stony BrookStony BrookUSA

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