Ibuprofen-Induced Aseptic Meningitis in a Male Adolescent with Intracranial Hypertension and Visual Impairment: A Case Report

Abstract

Drug-induced aseptic meningitis (DIAM) is a rare complication of certain drugs, most commonly reported with ibuprofen use. The present study reports on a male adolescent with intracranial hypertension and visual impairment accompanied by DIAM. We present a 16-year-old male patient who after ibuprofen consumption displayed headache, fever, photophobia, and blurred vision following heavy exercises. Examination of cerebrospinal fluid showed a mononuclear pleocytosis and an increase in protein concentration. Other examinations had normal results. The development of common clinical signs following ibuprofen use reflected DIAM. The patient's vision was found to improve with supportive care and stopping of the drug during follow-up. Given the widespread use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the fact that these drugs are the most common cause of DIAM, the probability of occurrence of this event should be always kept in mind, and screening for autoimmune diseases in these patients is of great importance.

Introduction

Aseptic meningitis is a nonbacterial inflammation of the protective covering surrounding the brain and spinal cord [1]. Viral infection is a common cause of this disease. In addition, various infectious and noninfectious causes, such as medications, may contribute to the occurrence of the disease [2]. Ibuprofen is the most common cause of drug-induced aseptic meningitis (DIAM), and it is crucial to examine and exclude other causes [3]. The present study reports the case of an adolescent male with intracranial hypertension and visual impairment accompanied by DIAM.

Case Study

We report a 16-year-old male patient with complaints of headache and blurred vision who was admitted to the neurology ward of Razi Hospital in Birjand city. One week before the onset of symptoms, the subject had taken ibuprofen 400 mg 3 times daily to relieve back pain and muscle pain following each bout of strenuous exercise. The patient reported headache, fever, photophobia, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting 1 week after ibuprofen use. The patient reported no history of administration of other drugs that was responsible for the increased cerebral pressure, and no ophthalmologic reasons were noted for his vision loss on ophthalmologic consultation. On clinical examination, the subject displayed a mild fever (38°C), neck flexion restriction, and bilateral papilledema.

Differential Diagnosis

The results of lumbar puncture and examination of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showed a mononuclear pleocytosis and an increase in protein concentration after drug use (white cell count 58/mm³ [0% neutrophils and 100% lymphocytes], total protein 125 mg/dL, and glucose 85 mg/dL with blood glucose 120 mg/dL). Other laboratory examinations including a Gram staining smear and microbial culture, cryptococcal antigen pneumococcal antigen assays, acid-fast bacteria smear and culture, India ink staining, HSV PCR, Wright agglutination test, CSF cytology, and Neuro9 PCR were reported negative. ADA and ACE were reported normal in CSF. The patient also underwent MRV and MRI with and without contrast, and the results were reported normal (Fig. 1, 2). In addition, a peripheral blood cell count, electrolyte, biochemistry, thyroid and parathyroid function, liver, kidney, vitamin B12, and serum level of lead and uric acid were normal. Tests for assessment of endocrine disorders and vasculitis were normal.

Fig. 1.

Brain MRI of the patient with drug-induced aseptic meningitis.

Fig. 2.

Sagittal T1-weighted and axial T2-weighted cranial MRI was normal.

Treatment

Prior to presenting the test results, the patient was first treated with empirical ceftriaxone (2 g per 12 h), vancomycin (1 g per 12 h), and acyclovir (750 mg per 8 h). After the infectious meningitis assessment became negative, the treatment was terminated. Within 7 days of hospital stay, the patient's headache was gone and visual acuity was reduced.

Outcome and Follow-Up

The patient's vision appeared to have improved on the 2-week and 1-month follow-up after hospital discharge. The development of common clinical signs following ibuprofen use reflected DIAM in our study case.

Discussion

Aseptic meningitis is a rare side effect of ibuprofen use [3]. Although ibuprofen is the most common cause of aseptic meningitis, other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac, sulindac, naproxen, ketoprofen, tolmetin, piroxicam, and two newly introduced drugs, rofecoxib and celecoxib, have been associated with aseptic meningitis [3, 4].

DIAM may present with numerous clinical symptoms. According to the literature, commonly reported symptoms following drug use were headache, fever, photophobia, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting. Typically, the signs and symptoms of NSAID-induced meningitis appear within a few minutes, hours, or up to 4 weeks following the administration of NSAIDs. However, cases with longer delays have been reported [5, 6]. The most common symptoms associated with NSAID-induced meningitis include fever, shivering, headache, nausea, vomiting, conjunctivitis, generalized arthralgia and myalgia, and skin rashes [3, 6, 7].

Classic symptoms of meningitis include nuchal rigidity, Kernig's and Brudzinski's signs, meningoencephalitis, and confusion [1, 6, 7]. Seizure is also commonly reported in 7–16% of cases, and some cases may display elevated white blood cell counts in peripheral blood [8, 9].

With regard to CSF results, DIAM differs across cases. Usually there is pleocytosis with high concentrations of multinucleated cells, but there are also mononuclear lymphocytes and eosinophils in CSF. The majority of DIAM patients may have normal glucose levels and increases in protein concentration and CSF pressure [1, 10]. Due to the pleocytosis and increase in protein level after drug use, initially it may be mistaken for bacterial meningitis [6], so that multiple medications such as ceftriaxone, vancomycin, acyclovir, among others, have been prescribed until the infectious meningitis tests become negative. In our study case, the results of the CSF analysis and CSF smear excluded bacterial meningitis. Also, the results of the Neuro9 PCR, as well as the quick remission of symptoms following termination of medication, mostly excluded viral meningitis.

The causes of increased intracranial pressure have been investigated in various studies. Classic mechanisms of increased intracranial pressure include increased CSF production, decreased CSF absorption, increased cerebral venous pressure, and venous stenosis and thrombosis [10]. In our patient, brain imaging showed no signs of intracranial hypertension. Elevated intracranial pressure due to metabolic, hormonal, and autoimmune diseases such as lupus, sarcoidosis, and Behçet were suggested to the patient, but there was no abnormality in the complete hormonal and vasculitic laboratory tests. In addition, CSF cytology was negative, and the patient reported no history of other drug use; also, ophthalmologic causes were not reported on ophthalmic consultation.

Although the pathogenic mechanism by which NSAIDs cause meningeal inflammation is still unknown, it appears to be an immunologically mediated hypersensitivity mechanism, especially of type III or type IV. It has been suggested that the drug combines with a CSF or meningeal protein that acts as a hapten, leading to an inflammatory response in the meninges, thereby explaining the restricted localization of the inflammatory response to the meningeal compartment [2, 5, 7, 9].

Conclusions

DIAM is a rare complication of certain drugs, most commonly caused by anti-inflammatory drugs, especially ibuprofen. Due to wide use of NSAIDs and the fact that these drugs are the most common cause of DIAM, the probability of occurrence of this event should always be considered, and screening for autoimmune diseases in DIAM patients is very important.

Statement of Ethics

The data including the name of the patient used to support the findings of this study are restricted by the Birjand University Ethics Committee in order to protect patient privacy. The authors confirm to have obtained written informed consent from the parents of the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Funding Sources

The authors received no funding for the publication of the case report.

Author Contributions

Both authors contributed to manuscript development, its rationale, and patient management as well as the design of this article, helped to draft the manuscript, and read and approved the final manuscript.