TOXOPLASMOSIS OF THE SPINAL-CORD IN A PATIENT WITH AIDS - CASE-REPORTAND REVIEW

We present the case of a patient whose acute myelopathy almost complet ely resolved with empirical therapy for toxoplasmosis, and we review t hirteen previously reported cases of myelopathy thought to have been c aused by Toxoplasma gondii in patients with AIDS. The most common symp toms and abnormal physical findings were motor loss (usually parapares is), bilateral sensory loss, urinary bladder dysfunction, and local pa in. The majority of patients had magnetic resonance images that showed abnormalities of the spinal cord and brain in association with positi ve serology for Toxoplasma. Therapy for toxoplasmosis, when administer ed soon after the onset of symptoms, has resulted in clinical and radi ographic improvement in the conditions of patients with toxoplasmosis.