Aseptic Meningitis and Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy
Authors: W. E. Peetermans
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1995)

Letters15 February 1995Aseptic Meningitis and Intravenous Immunoglobulin TherapyW. E. Peetermans, E. Van Wijngaerden, and D. C. KnockaertW. E. PeetermansBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030. University Hospital, K. U. Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1382.Search for more papers by this author, E. Van WijngaerdenBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030. University Hospital, K. U. Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1382.Search for more papers by this author, and D. C. KnockaertBaylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030. University Hospital, K. U. Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1382.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-122-4-199502150-00020 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Sekul and colleagues [1] and the accompanying editorial[2] discussed the clinical picture and incidence of aseptic meningitis with predominant neutrophil pleocytosis that was associated with high-dose intravenous immunoglobin therapy. The issue of additional antibiotic therapy pending the results of microbiological diagnosis was not addressed. No reliable rapid diagnostic test is available to exclude bacterial meningitis in these patients, who are frequently immune compromised; in patients with bacterial meningitis, early administration of antibiotic therapy is critical for a positive outcome. Indeed, the standard of care consists of administration of antibiotics within 30 minutes after a patient with suspected ...References1. Sekul EA, Cupler EJ, Dalakas MC. Aseptic meningitis associated with high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin therapy: frequency and risk factors. Ann Intern Med. 1994; 121:259-62. Google Scholar2. Scribner CL, Kapit RM, Phillips ET, Rickles NM. Aseptic meningitis and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (Editorial). Ann Intern Med. 1994; 121:305-6. Google Scholar3. Talan DA, Zibulewsky J. Relationship of clinical presentation to time to antibiotics for the emergency department management of suspected bacterial meningitis. Ann Emerg Med. 1993; 22:1733-8. Google Scholar4. De Vlieghere FC, Peetermans WE, Vermylen J. Aseptic granulocytic meningitis following treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin. Clin Infect Dis. 1994; 18:1008-10. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: W. E. Peetermans; E. Van Wijngaerden; D. C. KnockaertAffiliations: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030. University Hospital, K. U. Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1382. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 15 February 1995Volume 122, Issue 4Page: 316-317KeywordsAntibioticsBacterial meningitisCerebrospinal fluidHospitalizationsIntravenous immunoglobulinLeukocytosisMeningitisNeutrophils ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 15 February 1995 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 1995 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...