Conservative management of neurocysticercosis in a patient with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A case report and review

S. Purvey, K. Lu, S. K. Mukkamalla, P. Anandi, B. Dumitriu, S. Kranick, D. A. Hammoud, E. O'Connell, A. L. Oh, J. Barrett, S. Mahanty, M. Battiwalla

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis, an infection of the central nervous system with the larval stage of the cestode Taenia solium, is common in developing countries but its occurrence and management in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has not been reported previously, to our knowledge. We report the case of an immigrant female patient who underwent a matched-related allogeneic HSCT for acute lymphoblastic leukemia and was incidentally found to have a solitary viable neurocysticercosis lesion. However, despite severe immunosuppression, the size of the cyst did not increase. More importantly, restoration of the immune system did not induce significant inflammation or seizures. Subsequent follow-up demonstrated complete resolution of the neurocysticercosis lesion. Thus, in the setting of HSCT, an asymptomatic patient with a single neurocysticercosis lesion was successfully managed without the use of anthelmintics, steroids, or anti-epileptics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)456-462
Number of pages7
JournalTransplant Infectious Disease
Volume17
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2015

Keywords

  • Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
  • Anthelmintics
  • Neurocysticercosis
  • Parasite
  • Taenia solium
  • Tapeworm

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Transplantation

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