Adenoviral meningoencephalitis in a cancer patient was treatable with cidofovir

(August 18, 2003 - Antivirals in Cancer)

A lymphoma patient who developed adenoviral meningoencephalitis was rapidly cured with cidofovir therapy.

"We report a case of a 58-year-old female with neuromeningeal relapse of a large B-cell lymphoma which developed a meningoencephalitis due to adenovirus (ADV)," researchers in Italy report.

"Diagnosis of suspected viral meningoencephalitis was based on computed tomography (CT) scan radiological pictures, which were atypical for CNS neoplastic infiltrations, and it was confirmed by direct immunofluorescence performed on cerebrospinal fluid. Cultural exams identified adenovirus type 7," wrote L. Fianchi and coauthors.

The researchers concluded: "The ADV infection resolved after treatment with a total of 4 doses of cidofovir. Unfortunately, the hematological disease progressed, and the patient died 2 mo later from disseminated lymphoma."

Fianchi and colleagues published their study in Annals of Hematology (Adenovirus meningoencephalitis in a patient with large B-cell lymphoma. Ann Hematol, 2003;82(5):313-315).

For additional information, contact L. Fianchi, University of the Sacred Heart, Dept Hematology, Largo Freancesco Vito 1, I-00168 Rome, Italy.

The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of Immunology, Infectious Disease, Virology, Oncology and Neurology. This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports.

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