A total of 87 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples obtained from 85 patients with suspected meningitis were examined for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by means of ligase chain reaction amplification (LCx; Abbott Laboratories). The results were compared with direct smear and culture results. Of 61 patients with pathological CSF, 9 (14.8%) were scheduled to receive treatment for tuberculous meningitis. The sensitivity of the smear and culture tests was 11.1 and 33.3%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the LCx assay were 55.5, 100, 100 and 92.9%, respectively. The results reveal that amplification by ligase chain reaction is valuable for the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis.
Infections remain an issue of particular relevance in renal transplant patients, particularly viral infections. Human parvovirus B19 infection causes severe refractory anaemia, pancytopenia and thrombotic microangiopathy. Its presence is recognized by analysing blood polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and by the discovery of typical giant proerythroblasts in the bone marrow. We report the case of a 65 year-old man with a history of deceased donor renal transplant in September 2014. At 38 days after the transplant, the patient presented progressive anaemia that was resistant to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. At 64 days after transplant, hyperthermia occurred with progressive deterioration of the patient's general condition. The viral serology and the first blood PCR for human parvovirus B19 were both negative. At 4 months and 19 days after, a bone marrow biopsy was conducted, showing giant erythroblasts with nuclear viral inclusions that were compatible with parvovirus; a PCR in the tissue confirmed the diagnosis. A second blood PCR was positive for parvovirus. After treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin and the temporary discontinuation of mycophenolate mofetil, a complete remission of the disease occurred, although the blood PCR for parvovirus B19 remained positive, so monitoring is necessary for future likely recurrence.
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