Eosinophilic meningitis

• Published in: The American Journal of Medicine Vol. 114; no. 3; pp. 217 - 223
• Main Authors: Re, Vincent Lo, Gluckman, Stephen J
• Format: Book Review Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 15.02.2003; Elsevier; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Angiostrongylus cantonensis - isolation & purification; Animals; Ascaridida - isolation & purification; Ascaridida Infections - diagnosis; Ascaridida Infections - parasitology; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Biological and medical sciences; Coccidioides - isolation & purification; Coccidioidomycosis - diagnosis; Coccidioidomycosis - microbiology; Diagnosis, Differential; Eosinophilia - diagnosis; Eosinophilia - etiology; Fungi - isolation & purification; Gnathostoma - isolation & purification; Humans; Leukocytes; Medical sciences; Meningitis; Meningitis - diagnosis; Meningitis - etiology; Nervous system; Nervous system involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous; Neurology; Parasites; Spirurida Infections - diagnosis; Spirurida Infections - parasitology; Strongylida Infections - diagnosis; Strongylida Infections - parasitology; Viruses - isolation & purification; Human; Nervous system diseases; Mycosis; Review; Cerebrospinal fluid; Parasitosis; Eosinophilia; Helminthiasis; Infection; Etiology; Viral disease; Central nervous system disease; Clinical biology; Bacteriosis; Meningitis; Clinical investigation; Diagnosis
• ISSN: 0002-9343; 1555-7162
• DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9343(02)01495-X

Eosinophilic meningitis is a rare clinical entity that can be useful in narrowing the differential diagnosis of central nervous system disease. It is defined by the presence of 10 or more eosinophils/μL in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or a CSF eosinophilia of at least 10%. The most common cause is invasion of the central nervous system by helminthic parasites, particularly Angiostrongylus cantonensis, but other infections as well as noninfectious conditions may also be associated. This review describes the etiologies of eosinophilic meningitis, focusing primarily on the helminths that cause CSF eosinophilia.