Fulminant encephalopathy with basal ganglia hyperintensities in HIV-infected drug users.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To define a clinical syndrome associated with active drug abuse in HIV-infected individuals.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review to identify individuals treated at the Johns Hopkins Hospital from 1993 to 2008 who were HIV-infected and were actively abusing drugs and had bilateral basal ganglia lesions on MRI. They were identified using a key word search in the radiology database, autopsy database, and the Moore HIV clinic database. Clinical, laboratory, and radiographic findings were correlated to define the syndrome.

Results

Ten individuals were identified who presented with a change in mental status or seizures, used cocaine or cocaine with heroin, had uncontrolled HIV infection (>190,000 copies/mL of plasma), elevated CSF protein (63-313 mg/dL), a

SUBMITTER: Newsome SD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3053334 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature