Multiple tuberculomas invading the central nervous system as a paradoxical reaction in a kidney transplantation recipient

Saudi J Kidney Dis Transpl. 2018 May-Jun;29(3):719-722. doi: 10.4103/1319-2442.235190.

Abstract

A paradoxical reaction during anti-tuberculosis (anti-TB) therapy is commonly reported in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, a similar reaction to anti-TB therapy can also occur in patients without HIV, especially in patients who have undergone solid organ transplantation. A 65-year-old woman who underwent kidney transplantation six months prior presented to our emergency room with progressive paraparesis. She had been diagnosed with drug-susceptible miliary TB and had undergone two weeks of treatment with anti-TB medication. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a spinal intramedullary mass and multiple intracranial nodules. The etiology of the lesions was confirmed as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We report a paradoxical reaction of spinal intramedullary and multiple intracranial tuberculomas in a patient with miliary TB who had received appropriate treatment for more than two weeks.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Spine / diagnostic imaging
  • Spine / pathology
  • Tuberculoma* / complications
  • Tuberculoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Tuberculoma* / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System* / complications
  • Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System* / diagnostic imaging
  • Tuberculosis, Central Nervous System* / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / complications
  • Tuberculosis, Miliary / drug therapy

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents