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Drug-Induced Aseptic Meningitis

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Drug-induced Neurological Disorders

Abstract

Chemical agents, such as drugs, may produce a form of aseptic meningitis termed drug-induced aseptic meningitis. Several drugs have been reported to cause this condition, particularly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antimicrobials, corticosteroids, and antineoplastic drugs. Drugs and diagnostic agents administered intraventricularly and intrathecally can cause aseptic meningitis. This chapter examines the pathomechanism, differential diagnosis, and possible management of this condition. Highlights are:

  • Drug-induced aseptic meningitis is difficult to distinguish from other causes of aseptic meningitis.

  • CSF proteins are usually elevated. CSF culture results are always negative.

  • Causal relation to a drug is important for making diagnosis of drug-induced aseptic meningitis.

  • Several drugs are known to be the cause, but association with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs introduced directly into the CSF is more frequent.

  • Management involves discontinuation of the offending drug.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jain PharmaBiotech, Basel, Basel Stadt, Switzerland

    Kewal K. Jain

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Jain, K.K. (2021). Drug-Induced Aseptic Meningitis. In: Drug-induced Neurological Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73503-6_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73503-6_11

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-73502-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-73503-6

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