CNS infections in patients with hematological disorders (including allogeneic stem-cell transplantation): guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO)

Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are infrequently diagnosed in immunocompetent patients, but they do occur in a significant proportion of patients with hematological disorders. In particular, patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation carry a high risk for C...

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Main Authors: Schmidt-Hieber, Martin (Author) , Buchheidt, Dieter (Author) , Hähnel, Stefan (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 6 April 2016
In: Annals of oncology
Year: 2016, Volume: 27, Issue: 7, Pages: 1207-1225
ISSN:1569-8041
DOI:10.1093/annonc/mdw155
Online Access:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdw155
Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://academic.oup.com/annonc/article/27/7/1207/1741476
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Author Notes:M. Schmidt-Hieber, G. Silling, E. Schalk, W. Heinz, J. Panse, O. Penack, M. Christopeit, D. Buchheidt, U. Meyding-Lamadé, S. Hähnel, H. H. Wolf, M. Ruhnke, S. Schwartz and G. Maschmeyer
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Summary:Infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are infrequently diagnosed in immunocompetent patients, but they do occur in a significant proportion of patients with hematological disorders. In particular, patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation carry a high risk for CNS infections of up to 15%. Fungi and Toxoplasma gondii are the predominant causative agents. The diagnosis of CNS infections is based on neuroimaging, cerebrospinal fluid examination and biopsy of suspicious lesions in selected patients. However, identification of CNS infections in immunocompromised patients could represent a major challenge since metabolic disturbances, side-effects of antineoplastic or immunosuppressive drugs and CNS involvement of the underlying hematological disorder may mimic symptoms of a CNS infection. The prognosis of CNS infections is generally poor in these patients, albeit the introduction of novel substances (e.g. voriconazole) has improved the outcome in distinct patient subgroups. This guideline has been developed by the Infectious Diseases Working Party (AGIHO) of the German Society of Hematology and Medical Oncology (DGHO) with the contribution of a panel of 14 experts certified in internal medicine, hematology/oncology, infectious diseases, intensive care, neurology and neuroradiology. Grades of recommendation and levels of evidence were categorized by using novel criteria, as recently published by the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.
Item Description:Gesehen am 17.01.2018
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1569-8041
DOI:10.1093/annonc/mdw155