Hale GE, Spelman D; Australasian Society for HIV Medicine. Conference.
Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1994 Nov 3-6; 6: 276 (unnumbered poster).
Alfred Hospital, Melbourne.
A 40 year old HIV infected patient presented with hypomania. The patient was diagnosed HIV positive in 1989 and suffered his first AIDS defining illness in 1992 (oesophageal candidiasis). At the time of presentation, his CD4 count was 70. His medications included zidovudine and cotrimoxazole. He had been functioning at a very high level as a Health Educator at the time of presentation. Symptoms included unusual behaviour, unusual perception, extreme restlessness, diminished concentration and feelings of being "disconnected". Among other tests, an electroencephalogram was performed and revealed generalised epileptiform activity. The patient was commenced on phenytoin with immediate relief of the symptoms and within 2 weeks was back to full time work. The diagnosis of Nonconvulsive generalised status epilepticus (NCGSE) was made. This case demonstrates a very treatable behavioural disturbance in an HIV infected patient. Varied behavioural disturbances have been described in HIV patients, many of which are thought to be secondary to HIV encephalopathy or the AIDS dementia complex. In 2 large studies of HIV and epilepsy, the incidence of NCGSE was 4.3% and 1% respectively and the increased incidence of seizures in general has been described in several studies. This particular case cautions us against attributing the changes in mental status associated with NCGSE to progression of HIV encephalopathy and the AIDS dementia complex.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- AIDS Dementia Complex
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- CD4 Lymphocyte Count
- Disease Progression
- Epilepsy, Generalized
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Humans
- Incidence
- Status Epilepticus
- Zidovudine
Other ID:
UI: 102212384
From Meeting Abstracts