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Clinical and Neuropathological Variability in Clinically Isolated Central Nervous System Whipple's Disease.
- Source :
- Brain Pathology; Apr2014, Vol. 24 Issue 3, p230-238, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Central nervous system Whipple's disease ( CNS- WD) with clinically isolated neurological involvement is a rare condition fatal without an early diagnosis. We aimed to present clinical and neuropathological features of three cases of pre- or post-mortem polymerase chain reaction confirmed CNS- WD with distinct clinical presentation, outcome and pathological findings. One patient had an acute onset with spinal and brainstem involvement and died without CNS- WD diagnosis after 14 weeks. Neuropathology showed extensive inflammatory and necrotizing lesions with abundant foamy periodic-acid- Schiff ( PAS)+ macrophages. The second patient had a subacute evolution with late CNS- WD diagnosis and death occurring 18 months after onset despite antibiotic treatment. Brain examination showed inflammatory lesions in the brainstem, thalamus and cerebellum, and abundant foamy PAS+ macrophages. The third case was diagnosed within 4 weeks of onset and treated with an excellent response. He died after a disease-free period of 24 months of unrelated causes. Neuropathology showed cystic residual lesions devoid of microorganisms without inflammatory reaction. CNS- WD may have an acute or subacute course with variable response to treatment. Accordingly, subjacent lesions may be those of a severe acute necrotizing encephalitic process or subacute inflammatory lesions involving diencephalic, brainstem, cerebellar and spinal regions. Chronic, cavitary brain lesions may be sequelae of a successful treatment. Early diagnosis should allow appropriate treatment and improve prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10156305
- Volume :
- 24
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Brain Pathology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 95484744
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/bpa.12113