Pulmonary toxoplasmosis in bone marrow transplant recipients: report of two cases and review.

Toxoplasma gondii may cause disseminated disease in bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients. Pulmonary toxoplasmosis in BMT patients is rarely described. Mortality rates of >90% have been previously reported. Since pulmonary toxoplasmosis is extremely difficult to diagnose, it is very often detected only at autopsy. Two cases of pulmonary toxoplasmosis in BMT recipients that were diagnosed by visualization of T. gondii tachyzoites in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and by a new semi-nested PCR method amplifying 18S rRNA from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are presented, and the literature on pulmonary toxoplasmosis in BMT patients is reviewed.     

Diagnosis of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis: usefulness of papanicolaou-stained smears of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

BACKGROUND: The globules (stained green, orange, or orange in the center coated with a green rim) seen in Papanicolaou-stained smears of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid are suggested to be characteristic of pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of Papanicolaou-stained smears of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in aiding a diagnosis of PAP. METHODS: Papanicolaou-stained smears of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from 7 patients (5 idiopathic, 2 secondary) with PAP were evaluated. To serve as controls, the smears of 11 normal subjects and 128 patients with other pulmonary disorders were also examined. The findings on the presence and number of globules were recorded. To differentiate PAP from other pulmonary disorders, the highest globule value obtained from the control group was chosen as the cutoff point. RESULTS: The characteristic globules were not found in normal subjects and only found in 6 of 128 patients with other pulmonary disorders. Their clinical diagnoses were Sj?gren syndrome in 2 cases; polymyositis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, asbestosis, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis in 1 case each. The numbers of globules in these 6 patients were 1, 3, 17, 7, 3, and 2. In contrast, more than 100 globules were found in all patients with PAP. The number of globules was highly sensitive and specific in aiding a diagnosis of PAP when the cutoff value was set at 18. CONCLUSION: The globules seen in Papanicolaou-stained smears of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid may be valuable in aiding a diagnosis of PAP, especially when the number of globules is more than 18.     

Pulmonary toxoplasmosis: a review.

Toxoplasma pneumonia is being recognized with increased frequency, especially in patients with AIDS. We reviewed the English-, French-, and Spanish-language literature from January 1966 through February 1991 to identify cases of postnatally acquired pneumonia associated with Toxoplasma gondii. We identified two distinct clinical syndromes, one in immunocompetent patients and one in patients with defects in cell-mediated immunity. Shortness of breath and cough were the most common symptoms and fever and rales the most common signs in both groups of patients. Lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly were reported more frequently for immunocompetent patients. Chest roentgenographs usually revealed bilateral interstitial infiltrates, but a variety of other roentgenographic findings were reported. Serological findings were suggestive of active toxoplasmosis in immunocompetent but not in immunosuppressed patients. In early reports, identification of T. gondii as the etiologic agent of pneumonia was based on serology or autopsy findings. In more recent reports, open lung biopsy and especially bronchoalveolar lavage were used for diagnosis. Mortality among patients with toxoplasma pneumonia was 55%. However, in cases of T. gondii pneumonia diagnosed during life, mortality was 0 for immunocompetent patients and 40% for immunosuppressed patients. In immunosuppressed patients, improvement was associated with specific antitoxoplasma drug therapy. Unfortunately, relapses were common. We also reviewed data on series of patients with disseminated toxoplasmosis manifested predominantly in extrapulmonary sites and found that 33% of these patients had evidence of subclinical pulmonary involvement even though pneumonia had not been diagnosed clinically.     

Diagnosis of pulmonary strongyloidiasis by bronchoalveolar lavage

Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed on a patient with disseminated strongyloidiasis and 4.5 X 10(7) cells/65 ml of lavage fluid were recovered. Eighty-five percent of cells were polymorphonuclear leukocytes; 15 percent were pulmonary alveolar macrophages. Rhabditiform larvae (1 X 10(4)) were recovered in 65 ml of lavage fluid. This is the first report of bronchoalveolar lavage used in diagnosing disseminated strongyloidiasis.     

Diagnostic value of bronchoalveolar lavage in suspected pulmonary tuberculosis

Of 222 patients suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis (PT), studied during a one-year period, we performed fiberoptic bronchoscopy together with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), bronchial washing and postbronchoscopy sputum smears and L?wenstein cultures in 20 patients. Bronchoalveolar lavage proved to be the most effective method leading to diagnosis in 17 of 20 cases. Diagnosis was obtained in 11 of 20 cases using bronchial washing and postbronchoscopy sputum. The results of this study suggest that bronchoscopy may be required in selected cases for the diagnosis of PT. However, it should be accompanied by BAL, bronchial washings and postbronchoscopy sputum smears. Indications for bronchoscopy as a diagnostic tool for PT may include: (a) patients suspected of having PT with negative smears and in whom treatment must be started due to clinical status; (b) suspicion of associated neoplasia; (c) selected patients with negative L?wenstein cultures; (d) lack of material being obtained by simpler methods.     

Toxoplasma gondii pneumopathy in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: demonstration of the parasite by bronchioloalveolar lavage

Toxoplasmosis is an infection frequently observed in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Its first manifestations usually are cerebromeningal symptoms, but others may occur. A pulmonary lesion is sometimes present; it is discovered at post-mortem examination in most cases. The authors report a case of pulmonary toxoplasmosis diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Three points are emphasized: toxoplasmosis of the lung may produce an interstitial pneumonia similar to that of pneumocystosis; diagnosis can be made non-invasively by BAL, and provided an appropriate treatment is administered, the outcome may be favourable.     

Acute interstitial pneumonia: report of a series.

Four cases of acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) are described with special emphasis on clinical background, lung imaging and bronchoalveolar lavage findings. A retrospective chart review of four patients with histologically-proven AIP, diagnosed between 1998 and 2000, was carried out. Clinical data, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) findings, high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and histological features were analysed. Three patients died and only one is in follow-up. HRCT showed areas of ground glass attenuation and alveolar consolidation in all patients. Histology, documented by open lung biopsy or autopsy specimens, was consistent with the organising form of diffuse alveolar damage pattern. BAL findings were characteristic, with a huge neutrophilia associated with scattered atypical type II pneumocytes collected in clusters with extracellular amorphous material (fragments of hyaline membranes) observed in two out of three cases. In this paper, four cases of acute interstitial pneumonia are reported in detail. The poor prognosis associated with this entity has been confirmed and the possible diagnostic role of the bronchoalveolar lavage is emphasised.     

Toxoplasmosis and lupus. A review of the literature apropos of 4 cases

The authors report 4 cases of toxoplasmosis in patients with acute disseminated lupus erythematosus (ADLE). In one case, a pregnant patient with serology indicative of chronic infection, infected the neonate who died of subacute toxoplasmosis. Although ADLE is a classical cause of immunodepression, toxoplasmosis is a rare complication; only 5 cases were found in a review of the literature. Toxoplasmosis infection may resemble an exacerbation of lupus; an accurate diagnosis is essential as the treatment of the two conditions is radically different. The problems of diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in immunodepressed patients are reviewed and the therapeutic approach, especially in pregnant patients, is discussed. In ADLE, the authors recommend checking toxoplasmosis serology before starting and during treatment with corticosteroids. Special attention should be paid to pregnant women with apparently chronic serological changes as neonatal infection may occur.     

Toxoplasmosis in non‐cardiac solid organ transplant recipients: A case series and review of literature

The risk of toxoplasmosis in high‐risk cardiac transplant recipients is well recognized prompting universal donor and candidate screening with administration of targeted post‐transplant chemoprophylaxis in high‐risk (D+/R?) cardiac transplant patients. In contrast, until recently, there have been neither well‐defined recommendations nor consensus regarding toxoplasmosis preventive strategies among non‐cardiac solid organ transplant recipients. We report 3 cases of post‐transplant toxoplasmosis in non‐cardiac transplant recipients (one lung and two liver); all 3 infections presumed to be donor‐derived. Not surprisingly, pre‐transplant Toxoplasma serology was negative in all the patients. None of the patients were on trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole (TMP‐SMX) prophylaxis at the time of diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. The median time from transplant to onset of infection was 90 days (range: 30‐120 days). Clinical presentations included cerebral (n = 1) and disseminated infections (n = 2). Two of the 3 patients, both with disseminated infection died (mortality ~ 67%).     

Toxoplasmosis after allogeneic stem cell transplantation—a single centre experience

Toxoplasmosis is a rare but possibly underestimated complication following allogeneic stem cell transplantation with a high mortality rate. One reason might be the limitation of the diagnostic instruments relying mainly on imaging and molecular-based techniques. In this report, we present three cases of toxoplasmosis identified among 155 allograft recipients treated at Greifswald University Hospital. Widely disseminated toxoplasmosis was detected post-mortem in two patients allografted for high-risk multiple myeloma. Clinical signs suspicious for toxoplasmosis occurred after days?+32 and +75, respectively. In one case, serology and conventional Toxoplasma gondii PCR, targeting the B1 gene, revealed negative results, while in the other patient, toxoplasmosis was not investigated. Both patients received pentamidine for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PcP) prophylaxis. The third patient, a 68-year-old woman allografted for AML, developed cerebral toxoplasmosis from day?+395 after allogeneic SCT with typical signs in magnetic resonance tomography. Toxoplasma DNA was amplified from one of two samples of cerebrospinal fluid. The patient died of disseminated toxoplasmosis despite immediate initiation of therapy. Retrospective comparative testing of clinical specimens by the conventional T. gondii PCR and by a real-time PCR targeting a 529-bp genomic fragment suggests a higher sensitivity of the latter method in our patients. In conclusion, we suggest a rigorous real-time PCR monitoring for high-risk patients or patients with signs of infections suspicious for toxoplasmosis, even though low-copy results are presently difficult to interpret. Our reported cases might also encourage the use of trimethoprim-sufmethoxazole instead of pentamidine for PcP prophylaxis in those patients.     

Yield of diagnostic tests for opportunistic infections in AIDS: a survey of 33 patients

To examine the therapeutic consequences of diagnostic tests for AIDS-related infections, case records from 33 deceased AIDS patients were reviewed; 23 were autopsied. Determination of serum antibody titres was not important. In particular, there was no relation between titres and isolation of cytomegalovirus (CMV); isolation attempts or possibly antigen determination would be better. Samples for CMV isolation were obtained from 31 patients; only 7 were negative. Blood, faeces, and particularly sputum cultures gave a low yield; the number of such examinations could be reduced considerably. However, 4/7 disseminated infections with atypical mycobacteria were only revealed at autopsy, despite numerous cultures in vivo. Liver biopsies were not helpful. Diagnostic procedures for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia by lung biopsy caused pneumothorax in 3/15 patients; bronchoalveolar lavage or treatment/prophylaxis without diagnosis could be considered. In 8 autopsies, microscopy was suggestive of cerebral toxoplasmosis, but only 1 patient had presented important clinical symptoms. We suggest a schedule with regular microbiologic and parasitic examinations and few antibody tests, but with more antigen tests.     

Toxoplasmosis in bone marrow-transplant recipients: report of seven cases and review.

We report seven cases of cerebral or disseminated toxoplasmosis that occurred following bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and review the other 24 cases described in the literature. For all the cases, toxoplasmosis occurred within 6 months of BMT, with the highest incidence in the second and third months. Twenty-four of 26 recipients tested serologically before BMT were positive for Toxoplasma gondii, a finding that supports the view that such cases result from reactivation of latent infection. At the onset of clinical symptoms, IgG antibody titers were unchanged or decreased in 23 of 25 documented cases, and IgM antibodies were detected in two cases. Antemortem diagnosis was made in 16 cases and was based on the response to specific therapy in six cases and/or the demonstration of the parasite in body fluids or tissues in 10 cases. Autopsy was performed in 19 cases and revealed that infection was not restricted to the brain but either involved lung or heart tissue or was disseminated in 14 cases.     

肺结核患者痰抗酸杆菌检出阳性率的影响因素

目的探讨肺结核患者痰涂片抗酸杆菌阳性检出率的影响因素。方法 79803份痰标本、3750份纤支镜灌洗液标本分别采用直接涂片镜检法和液基集菌法检出的阳性率进行分析。结果采用液基集菌法涂片后痰液的抗酸杆菌阳性检出率提高2.94%,纤支镜灌洗液的抗酸杆菌阳性检出率提高8.22%。同样方法获取的标本使用液基集菌法对纤支镜灌洗液涂片中抗酸杆菌阳性检出率的提高明显大于痰标本。结论痰涂片阳性检出率的提高,除与标本检测方法有关外,合格的痰液标本是提高抗酸杆菌阳性检出率的重要影响因素。     

Bronchoalveolar lavage in malignancy

Bronchoalveolar lavage is a useful diagnostic tool in diffuse or disseminated lung malignancies that do not involve the bronchial structures visible by endoscopy. The neoplastic histotype and the intraparenchymal neoplastic growth pattern are good predictors for diagnostic yield; adenocarcinoma, and tumors with lymphangitic or lepidic growth patterns are more easily diagnosed by bronchoalveolar lavage; in these cases the diagnostic yield reported is higher than 80%. In hematologic malignancies the diagnostic yield is quite good in secondary diffuse indolent B cell lymphomas and in primary B cell lymphomas of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type but low in Hodgkin disease. Morphological analysis may be implemented by immunocytochemical or molecular tests to identify the cell lineage and the presence of monoclonality. Disorders in which bronchioloalveolar cell hyperplasia/dysplasia is a significant morphological component may have cytological features in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid that mimic lung neoplasms: acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute interstitial pneumonitis (AIP), and acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are the most important clinical entities in this group.     

Pulmonary toxoplasmosis in AIDS. Report of 3 cases

Pulmonary toxoplasmosis in AIDS is rare. Its frequency is estimated to be between 0.2 and 3.7% but is probably underestimated; however, it is lower than that of neurotoxoplasmosis and is rarely identified prior to autopsy. We describe herein 3 cases diagnosed in living patients. The clinical presentation is usually severe interstitial pneumonitis, occurring in profoundly immunodeficient patients. Toxoplasma gondii, the infectious agent, must always be sought in the bronchoalveolar lavage of such patients and is sometimes associated with other opportunistic infectious agents, such as Pneumocystis carinii.     

Detection ofToxoplasma gondii in AIDS patients by the polymerase chain reaction

Summary In recent years, toxoplasmosis has become one of the most frequent and life-threatening opportunistic infections in AIDS patients. Despite strict clinical follow-up and repeated biological examinations, its diagnosis remains difficult to establish in the context of immunodeficiency because of the poor predictive value of serology. The aim of the study was to compare standard methods of diagnosis with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in an attempt to investigate the potential usefulness of PCR in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. Twelve biological samples (cerebrospinal fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, one brain biopsy and one liver biopsy) from 11 unselected AIDS patients were tested by PCR. The results showed good correlation (for eight out of 11 patients) between classical methods and PCR, and confirm the value of bronchoalveolar lavage for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients. The pathophysiological significance of the presence ofToxoplasma in samples tested is discussed.

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Nachweis von Toxoplasma gondii unter Anwendung der Polymerasekettenreaktion bei AIDS-Kranken

Zusammenfassung Bei AIDS-Kranken stellt die Toxoplasmose eine der häufigsten lebensbedrohlichen Infektionen dar. Wegen des geringen prädiktiven Wertes der Serologie ist die Diagnose im Zustand der Abwehrschwäche trotz konsequenter klinischer Kontrollen und wiederholter Laboruntersuchungen schwierig. Die vorliegende Studie wurde durchgeführt, um die Methoden der konventionellen Diagnostik mit der Polymerasekettenreaktion (PCR) zu vergleichen und den Nutzen der PCR in der Toxoplasmose-Diagnostik zu beurteilen. Die PCR wurde bei 11 unausgewählten AIDS-Kranken eingesetzt; für die Untersuchungen standen 12 Proben (Liquor cerebrospinalis, bronchoalveoläre Lavage-Flüssigkeit, eine Hirnbiopsie und eine Leberbiopsie) zur Verfügung. Die Ergebnisse zeigten bei acht der 11 Patienten eine gute Korrelation zwischen den klassischen Nachweismethoden und der PCR. Sie bestätigen den Wert der Bronchoalveolar-Lavage für den Nachweis der Toxoplasmose bei AIDS-Kranken. Die pathophysiologische Bedeutung der Toxoplasma-Organismen in den Proben wird diskutiert.

     

Acute exacerbation of Toxoplasma gondii infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: five case reports among 279 recipients

Toxoplasmosis is a rare and possibly underestimated complication following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) associated with a high mortality rate, although the incidence of toxoplasmosis after HSCT in Japan has not been established. We retrospectively studied patients with toxoplasmosis after HSCT, and identified five patients who had been diagnosed with an acute exacerbation of toxoplasmosis among 279 HSCT recipients at our institution between 1998 and 2011, representing an incidence of 1.8 %. Among 87 autologous HSCT recipients, one definite case was diagnosed. The serological test for Toxoplasma gondii before HSCT was positive in 18 of 192 allogeneic HSCT recipients. Of the 18 seropositive patients, three had definite infections, and one had possible infection. All four definite cases were diagnosed at autopsy. In the definite cases, three allogeneic HSCT recipients had disseminated or pulmonary toxoplasmosis and one autologous HSCT recipient had toxoplasmic encephalitis, although toxoplasmosis was not suspected at the premortem examination due to non-specific clinical and radiological manifestations. Thus, acute exacerbation of toxoplasmosis should be suspected in recipients after HSCT. Early diagnosis and treatment for toxoplasmosis would certainly contribute to a decrease in mortality after HSCT.     

经纤维支气管镜肺泡灌洗治疗老年吸入性肺炎的临床观察

目的观察经纤维支气管镜肺泡灌洗治疗老年吸入性肺炎的临床疗效。方法将80例老年吸入性肺炎患者随机分成观察组和对照组各40例,观察组应用纤维支气管镜局部肺泡灌洗联合内科治疗,对照组给予内科常规治疗,观察比较两组治疗前后症状变化情况。结果两组治愈率及总有效率比较,差异有显著性（P〈0.05）。观察组症状改善时间程较对照组明显缩短（P〈0.05）。结论经纤维支气管镜肺泡灌洗联合内科常规治疗老年吸入性肺炎,能显著提高疗效,缩短疗程。     

Fungal panniculitis in renal transplant recipients

Abstract: Panniculitis may result due to various etiologies. In post-transplant immunosuppressed patients infection is the foremost cause of panniculitis. We present 2 cases of fungal panniculitis in renal transplant recipients. The first patient presented with non-tender firm erythematous plaques on the left thigh. Biopsy showed panniculitis with cryptococci. Subsequent investigations revealed the presence of cryptococcal antigens in the blood, urine, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. There was no evidence of cryptococcal meningitis. The second patient complained of subcutaneous nodules on the trunk and right thigh. Biopsy of one of the nodules showed panniculitis with histoplasma. This patient had been treated earlier (inadequately) for disseminated histoplasmosis. Both the cases responded well to conventional amphotericin B therapy. Their renal functions remained stable.     

卡氏肺孢子虫肺炎大鼠模型的比较研究

目的　比较用SpragueDawley(SD)大鼠和Wistar大鼠建立卡氏肺孢子虫肺炎 (PCP)模型的差异。 方法　选用SD大鼠和Wistar大鼠 ,随机分为实验组和对照组 ,免疫抑制诱导建立动物模型 ;收集肺组织和支气管肺泡灌洗液 (BALF) ,分别制成肺印片和BALF涂片 ,作Giemsa染色 ,镜检卡氏肺孢子虫滋养体和包囊。结果　共收集实验组SD大鼠和Wistar大鼠的肺组织及BALF标本各 2 8份 ,经Giemsa染色后 ,在肺印片中查见Pneumocystiscarinii(Pc)虫体的阳性率分别为 89.2 9%和10 0 % ,两者之间无显著性差异 (P >0 .0 5 ) ;BALF阳性率分别为 6 0 .71%和 78.5 7% ,两者之间亦无显著性差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。而同种大鼠的肺印片与BALF涂片 ,其阳性率之间有显著性差异 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,且肺印片的检出率均显著高于BALF涂片。同种大鼠不同肺叶的肺印片 ,其阳性率之间无显著性差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论　SD大鼠与Wistar大鼠作为PCP模型动物无明显差别