Title: Study on Clinical Spectrum of Neurological Manifestations in HIV Positive Patients from a Tertiary Health Care Unit

Authors: Dr Jami Suneel,  Dr Satya Kumar K,  Dr NM Sampath Anil Kumar,  Dr Satish Reddy SKSS, Dr Krishna Mythili Sreeram

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v9i1.07

Abstract

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus – 1 (HIV – 1) causing Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is not a rare disease anymore.  Involvement of the nervous system was not recognized in the early years. Neuraxis involvement at various levels is now recognized in atleast one third of patients with advanced HIV infection and neurological symptoms might be the first sign of development of AIDS in 10% of the cases.  Neurological manifestations of HIV include CNS disorders caused by HIV directly which include cognitive disorders and other CNS diseases like myelopathy and demyelinating neuropathy, and the secondary disorders caused by opportunistic infections, cerebrovascular events, neoplasm and medications1,2,3.  Taking into considerationof  the versatile neurological manifestations in patients infected with HIV, the neurological manifestations were analysed in this group of patients.

Aim of the Study: To study the spectrum of neurological manifestations at various levels in HIV infected patients.

Materials and Methods: Study was conducted in the Department of General Medicine, Maharajah’s Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS), Vizianagaram for a period of 15 months (January 2019 to March 2020) which included 100 patients who were admitted in medical wards and ICU

Conclusion: CNS manifestations were more common in men than in women. Headache and altered sensorium were the two common symptoms observed in this study. Tuberculous meningitis was the most common opportunistic infection in our study.

Keywords: Human immunodeficiency virus ,Anti retroviral therapy, Neurological manifestations, Headache, TB Meningitis.

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Corresponding Author

Dr Satya Kumar K

Assistant Professor, Department of General Medicine, Maharajah’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Nellimarla, Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh, India