Brain abscess following rituximab infusion in a patient with pemphigus vulgaris.
Am J Case Rep
; 16: 65-8, 2015 Feb 07.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25659437
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Immunocompromised patients are at increased risk for developing meningitis or, rarely, brain abscess with opportunistic organisms like Listeria monocytogenes. CASE REPORT A 52 year-old Saudi Arabian woman who was diagnosed with pemphigus vulgaris and diabetes and had been on prednisolone and azathioprine for about 4 years. She presented with headache, low-grade fever, and left-sided weakness 2 weeks after receiving the second dose of rituximab infusion. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed an enhanced space-occupying lesion with multiple small cyst-like structures and vasogenic edema in the right temporoparietal area. Her blood culture was positive for Listeria monocytogenes, and a brain biopsy showed necrotic tissues with pus and inflammatory cells. She recovered after a 6-week course of antibiotics with ampicillin and gentamycin.CONCLUSIONS:
Brain abscess due to Listeria monocytogenes is a risk that should be considered when adding rituximab to the regimen of a patient who is already Immunocompromised.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Brain Abscess
/
Pemphigus
/
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Am J Case Rep
Year:
2015
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Saudi Arabia
Country of publication:
EEUU
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS
/
ESTADOS UNIDOS DA AMERICA
/
EUA
/
UNITED STATES
/
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
/
US
/
USA