Clinical analysis of neurological involvement in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Abstract

Objective To deepen the understanding of clinical features of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and reduce the rate of misdiagnosis. Methods Data of 12 patients with nervous system complications and opportunistics infection in 28 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected persons and (or) AIDS patients were analysed retrospectively. The patients were admitted to our hospital from January 2007 to June 2011. Results Among the 12 patients, there were 5 cases of HIV encephalopathy, 3 chronic meningitis, 1 symmetrical polyneuropathy, 1 acquired demyelinating peripheral neuropathy, 1 cereboral infarction and 1 myopathy. The morbidity of HIV/AIDS complicated with nervous system lesion was 42.86% (12/28). Patients had 1 or 2 kinds of opportunistic infections. The morbidity rate of viral infection was 83.33% (10/12) while cryptococcal meningitis was 25% (7/28). Conclusion HIV infection may involve the muscle and multiple sites of nervous system. AIDS patients were often complicated with mixed infection, especially viral infection in multiple systems. The main signs and symptoms are emaciation, intermittent fever, headache, cough, cognitive deterioration and meningeal irritation sign. The presentations are complicated and may induce misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. Cerebrospinal fluid, lung CT, head CT and (or) MRI and other accessory examinations should be performed for confirming diagnosis as soon as possible.

DOI:10.3969/j.issn.1672-6731.2011.05.015