Concurrent cerebral american trypanosomiasis and toxoplasmosis in a patient with AIDS.

Abstract

We report a case of concurrent cerebral infection with Trypanosoma cruzi and Toxoplasma gondii in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A 22-year-old El Salvadoran man initially improved during receipt of antitoxoplasmosis therapy, but he had rapidly progressive hemiplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an abnormal finding in the left internal capsule, and cytological analysis of cerebrospinal fluid revealed T. cruzi trypomastigotes. Despite prompt therapy with nifurtimox, the patient's mental status declined, and he died of nosocomial complications. Although infrequent, T. cruzi infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of brain lesions in patients with AIDS from regions of endemicity.