POPLINE Document Number: 076021
Author(s):
Puccioni-Sohler M
Correa RB
Perez MA
Schechter M
Ramos Filho C
Novis SA
Source citation:
ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA, 1991 Jun;49(2):159-63.
Abstract:
In Brazil the incidence of AIDS cases has increased alarmingly in the last few years. In about 40-70% of cases with HIV infection neurological symptoms occur, and neuropathological alterations are in evidence in up to 90% of autopsy cases. Retrospectively a total of 653 individuals infected with HIV who had been hospitalized between January 1985 and December 1989 were studied. All of them were administered an HIV test by means of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed by immunofluorescence and/or Western Blot. The stages of the disease were established according to the classification of the Centers for Disease Control in 1986. 172 patients (26.3%) presented neurological symptoms predominantly in the 31-40 age group. The category of sexual exposure was the most frequent with 63.4%. There were 80 cases of cerebral toxoplasmosis (46.5%), 57 cases of cryptococcal meningitis (33%), 17 cases of subacute encephalopathy (9.8%), 8 cases of tuberculosis, 2 cases of aseptic meningitis, 2 cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy confirmed by cerebral biopsy and autopsy, 6 cases of vacuolar myelopathy, and 3 cases of peripheral neuropathy. Focal alterations predominated such as hemiparesis, convulsive crisis, and hemianopsia sometimes accompanied by deterioration of consciousness. Computerized axial tomography carried out in 95 patients indicated the predominance of focal lesions of hypodense type. Some cases of lesions of the type of cortical atrophy and ventricular dilation associated with opportunistic infections, and neurotoxoplasmosis in a patient with normal CAT were also observed. These and other data suggest that HIV may be present in the nervous system in all stages of the infection, but the factors responsible for the appearance of neurological symptoms have not been clarified yet.
Keywords:
BrazilIndex page
Retrospective Studies
AIDS
HIV Infections
Testing
Neurologic Effects
Cerebrovascular Effects
Developing Countries
South America, Eastern
South America
Latin America
Americas
Studies
Research Methodology
Viral Diseases
Diseases
Measurement
Physiology
Biology