Extracerebral toxoplasmosis in AIDS. Histological and immunohistological findings based on 80 autopsy cases

Pathol Res Pract. 1993 May;189(4):428-36. doi: 10.1016/S0344-0338(11)80331-6.

Abstract

Despite the great amount of literature concerning toxoplasmic encephalitis in AIDS patients, little is known about extracerebral toxoplasmosis. Therefore we conducted a study of 80 autopsy cases to estimate the frequency of extracerebral toxoplasmosis. A control group of 50 cases was completely negative for all markers applied. In 35 of the 80 AIDS-cases (43.7%), organisms could be detected. In 13 cases (16.2%) there was an extracerebral toxoplasmosis; 4 cases (5%) showed only extracerebral involvement and in 9 cases (11.2%), extracerebral toxoplasmosis occurred in combination with cerebral manifestations. In 22 cases (27.5%), only cerebral toxoplasmosis was found. The following organs were involved: cardiac muscle (15%), lungs (6.2%), liver (5%), pancreas (5%), gastrointestinal tract (6.2%), adrenal glands (5%), lymph nodes (5%) and testis (3.7%). In individual cases further organs, not mentioned above, were involved. Pseudocysts could be demonstrated within necroses and inflammatory foci by conventional staining, whereas trophozoites became apparent only immunohistologically.

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications*
  • Adrenal Glands / microbiology
  • Animals
  • Cadaver
  • Digestive System / microbiology
  • Heart / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Lymph Nodes / microbiology
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Pancreas / microbiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Toxoplasma / isolation & purification
  • Toxoplasmosis / complications*
  • Toxoplasmosis / metabolism
  • Toxoplasmosis / pathology*