SEPTIC SHOCK DUE TO TOXOPLASMOSIS IN PATIENTS INFECTED WITH THE HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS

Purpose: To describe the presentation and clinical course of septic sh ock due to Toxoplasma gondii in patients infected with the human immun odeficiency virus (HIV). Patients and methods: From April 1988 to Febr uary 1992, nine HIV-infected patients were admitted because of predomi nant septic shock (7 patients) or developed septic shock in the ICU (2 patients). The recent CD4 + cell count ranged from 2 to 84 x 10(6)/L. Results: The main clinical features were (1) a history of fever for l onger than 15 days, with a recent increase to more than 39.5-degrees-C ; (2) a recent history of dyspnea (<15 days, 8 cases; <7 days, 3 cases ); and (3) recent onset of thrombocytopenia (6 of 9 cases). All patien ts were in shock (hyperkinetic profile in 6 of 7; hypokinetic in 1 of 7), and 8 of 9 were in respiratory distress (ratio of PaO2 over fracti onal concentration of oxygen in the inspired gas of 117+/-23; range, 8 8 to 155). Chest roentgenograms revealed diffuse alveolar infiltrates in six of nine cases. The serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity w as 6,510-5,080 IU/L (range, 1,010 to 15,450 IU/L). Serologic tests for T gondii were negative in two cases. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated f rom lung (9/9), bone marrow (5/7), or blood (2/2). One, 3, and 2 patie nts had brain, ocular, and myocardial involvement, respectively. No ot her microbial pathogens were isolated. Seven patients died, 5 less tha n 3 days after admission. Conclusion; Disseminated toxoplasmosis can c ause septic shock in HIV-infected patients. In two cases, the disease was probably a primary infection. The association of high fever, acute dyspnea, recent onset of thrombocytopenia, and a very high level of L DH activity is suggestive of disseminated toxoplasmosis.