Clinical Characteristics, Diagnosis, and Management of Aseptic Meningitis Induced by Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole

Abstract

Objective

Trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is related to aseptic meningitis. However, a detailed description of its phenotype is lacking, which easily leads to misdiagnosis. The purpose of this article is to explore the clinical characteristics of TMP-SMX-induced aseptic meningitis (TSIAM).

Methods

We collected literature related to TSIAM published before July 31, 2023, by searching Chinese and English databases. Data were extracted and analyzed descriptively.

Results

The 55 patients were mostly female (60.0%), with a median age of 43 years (range: 2.5–90 years). The first onset time was from a few minutes to 3 months after administration, and the time of reonset was within 12 hours. Fever (98.2%), headache (78.2%), altered mental status (42.3%), nausea and vomiting (41.8%), and neck pain (34.5%) were the most common symptoms. In severe cases, patients presented with low blood pressure, seizures, unconsciousness, or coma. Typical cerebrospinal fluid analysis showed elevated white blood cell counts, with polymorphonuclear leukocytes predominating, elevated protein levels, and normal glucose levels. Brain imaging usually showed no abnormalities. Symptoms resolved rapidly after the discontinuation of TMP-SMX, within a median time of 2 days (range: 1, 60). Readministration of TMP-SMX led to another relapse of aseptic meningitis. Aseptic meningitis usually culminated in a full recovery, although one patient experienced permanent paraplegia.

Conclusion

Clinicians should be aware that aseptic meningitis is a rare adverse effect of TMP-SMX. TMP-SMX should be discontinued in patients with TSIAM to reduce unnecessary testing and treatment, and readministration of TMP-SMX should be avoided.

Keywords:

• aseptic meningitis
• trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
• drug-induced aseptic meningitis
• headache
• trimethoprim

Ethical Considerations

This study did not require an ethical board approval because the study was a retrospective study and did not involve sensitive personal information.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province (2023JJ40499), Scientific Research Fund Project of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine (2022XYLH004).