Journal Published Online: 01 January 1984
Volume 29, Issue 1

Fungal Cerebritis from Intravenous Drug Abuse

CODEN: JFSCAS

Abstract

Three intravenous drug abusers (predominantly cocaine) developed a fulminant fungal cerebritis without any other identifiable predisposing factor. Two died and one survived with a severe neurologic deficit. Zygomycetes (nonseptated fungi) were identified in the brain tissue of two victims and Acremonium alabamensis was cultured from the brain tissue of the third. Fulminant fungal cerebritis in intravenous drug abusers (in the absence of any predisposing illness) may represent a unique variant of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Future surviving patients should be evaluated for the possibility of a cellular immune deficiency state in order to confirm this impression.

Author Information

Wetli, CV
Medical Examiner's Office, Miami, FL
Weiss, SD
Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami, School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Cleary, TJ
University of Miami, School of Medicine, Miami, FL
Gyori, E
Dade County Medical Examiner Office and Mt. Sinai Medical Center of Greater Miami, Miami, FL
Pages: 9
Price: $25.00
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Stock #: JFS11658J
ISSN: 0022-1198
DOI: 10.1520/JFS11658J