Clinical profile of neurological complications in HIVreactive patients and their relation with CD4

Abstract

Background: Neurologic abnormalities have been noted in one-third of patients with AIDS, but at autopsy the nervous system is affected in all of them. Aim : To study the clinical profile of neurological complications in HIV reactive patients, study and correlate the neurological complications with CD4 count and study and correlate the radiological findings (on CT brain plain and contrast) of neurological complications in HIV reactive patients, with CD4count. Methods: A randomized case study was conducted at Dr. V. M. Government Medical College, Solapur, Maharashtra, India, over a period of 2 years. 50 HIV-infected adult and adolescent patients presenting with neurological manifestations were studied. The diagnosis of HIV was confirmed by 3 HIV ELISA positive reports in symptomatic patients. . Results: In the present study, 46% of the patients were in the age group of 31-40 years. Males are affected more
frequently than females, with a male to female sex ratio of 2.125: 1. Meningitis, intracranial space occupying lesions, and stroke syndromes are the commonest neurological disorders observed in HIV-infected patients. Tuberculosis is the commonest opportunistic infection in retroviral positive patients. Ischemic strokes are a common complication in HIV-infected individuals. Tuberculomas are the most common cause of intracranial space occupying lesions. Conclusion: Central nervous system infections, intracranial mass lesions, stroke, and HIV-associated dementia are more common in patients with a CD4+ count less than 200.
Key Words : HIV; AIDS; CD4 count; meningitis; tuberculoma; dementia