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YSTEMS REVIEW

19. NEUROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS OF HIV INFECTION

Patrick CK LI

Neurological complications affect a significant proportion of HIV-infected individuals and are

important causes of death and morbidity. With progressive deterioration in immune
function, the brain and nervous system become susceptible to a range of opportunistic
infections (OIs) and tumours. The most commonly encountered OIs are cryptococcosis,
tuberculosis, cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease, toxoplasmosis, progressive multifocal
leucoencephalopathy (PML) and primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL). In
addition, HIV can directly affect the nervous system and cause HIV-associated dementia
(HAD), distal sensory peripheral neuropathy (DSPN), myopathy and vacuolar myelopathy.
Following the availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with resultant
immune restoration, the incidence of the various OIs and tumours as well as HAD has
significantly decreased. However, the patients may develop Immune Reconstitution Disease
(IRD) with paradoxical deterioration of neurological symptoms and signs during the first few
weeks after initiation of HAART. Side effects from antiretroviral agents and drugs for
treatment of OIs may likewise affect the nervous system. In addition, long-term HAART
may lead to metabolic disturbances which can increase the risk of cerebrovascular disease.

Diagnosis of neurological complications in HIV-infected individuals is often difficult. Clinical

presentations may be subtle or atypical; dual infections frequently coexist, and a number of
differential diagnoses may need to be considered. Laboratory and radiological investigations
may only yield indirect information on the underlying aetiological agent. HIV itself can cause
non-specific abnormalities in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) including lymphocytic pleocytosis
and increased protein level even in the asymptomatic patients while advanced
immunodeficiency can dampen the inflammatory response in the CSF. Access to lesion in
the central nervous system for direct histopathological confirmation is often not feasible.
Appropriate laboratory and radiological investigations may be applied on a rational basis or
empirical therapy prescribed basing on the presumptive diagnosis.

This chapter presents a syndrome based approach to the management of adult HIV-infected
patients with neurological complications. Detailed information on individual OIs and tumours
as well as paediatric neurological manifestations are described in other chapters of the
manual. Common syndromes and their possible causes are listed in Box 19.1. An algorithm
is recommended to illustrate the approach.

Meningitic illness

Clinical features and differential diagnoses

Clinical features of meningitic illness in the HIV-infected patient may include fever,
headache, nausea and vomiting, neck pain, photophobia, drowsiness or cranial nerve
symptoms. On physical examination, there may be neck rigidity, positive Kernig's sign,
papilloedema, cranial nerve palsies or impaired conscious level. The clinical presentation of
meningitis in the setting of HIV infection may be atypical and consists only of non-specific
symptoms such as deterioration in general condition.

The commoner infectious agents causing meningitic illness in HIV-infected patients

are Cryptococcus neoformans and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Bacterial meningitis
may also occur in association with HIV infection. In addition, acute HIV infection may cause
aseptic meningitis associated with seroconversion. Occasionally, neurosyphilis may present
with a meningitic illness.

Assessment of meningitic illness

The patient should be reviewed for prior or coexisting tuberculosis or systemic fungal
infection. Skin lesions and lymphadenopathy are sought so that scraping or aspiration
cytology could be performed respectively to identify the aetiological agent. Serum should be
tested for cryptococcal antigen and blood should be taken for fungal and mycobacterial
culture. Chest radiograph should be performed to look for any associated pulmonary lesions.
In the absence of focal neurological signs or papilloedema, lumbar puncture should be
performed as soon as possible. CSF should be sent for microscopy, biochemistry, Gram
smear and bacterial culture, acid-fast stain and mycobacterial culture, negative stain and
fungal culture, as well as cryptococcal antigen. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for MTB
should be performed if the test is available. CSF should also be sent for cytology
examination in case of the rare occurrence of lymphomatous infiltration causing the
meningitic illness, and venereal disease reference laboratory (VDRL) and/or fluorescent
treponemal antibody (FTA) test for the possibility of neurosyphilis.

Computed tomography (CT) scan usually shows negative findings in HIV-infected patients
presenting with pure meningitic illness. There may be cerebral atrophy or basal meningeal
contrast enhancement. Sometimes clinically silent tuberculoma or cryptococcoma may be
detected. Communicating hydrocephalus may be detected and would require close
monitoring and specific treatment.
Specific treatment

Cryptococcal and tuberculous meningitis are common causes the treatment for which are
given in the respective chapters. Cryptococcal meningitis patients are generally treated with
a combination of intravenous amphotericin B and oral flucytosine for at least 2 weeks. After
this period and when the clinical condition has stabilised, the patient may be switched to
high-dose oral fluconazole until the CSF has become sterilised. For patients with severe
infection and high load of cryptococcus in the CSF, amphotericin B therapy may need to be
extended to 4-6 weeks. The patient should then receive secondary prophylaxis with
fluconazole 200 mg daily until the CD4 count has increased above 200/μL following HAART.

Unlike pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculous meningitis (TBM) tends to occur with more
advanced immunodeficiency with CD4 count below 50/μL. The diagnosis of TBM is less
straight forward unless the patient is known to have coexisting tuberculosis, usually
affecting the lungs. CSF examination for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) generally has a low yield and
mycobacterial culture may take a few weeks to give a positive result. PCR for MTB may be
helpful if a positive result is obtained but negative PCR does not completely exclude the
diagnosis.

It may be necessary to administer empirical anti-tuberculous therapy in the clinical setting

of meningitic illness in which bacterial cause is considered unlikely and CSF examination for
yeasts and cryptococcal antigen yields negative result. The duration of treatment may have
to be extended for patients who cannot receive isoniazid or rifampicin because of side
effect. Corticosteroid therapy has been shown to reduce the mortality but not the disability
from TBM. Initiation of HAART should normally be deferred until the patient had been
stabilised on anti-tuberculous drugs and the clinician should recognise the possibility of
paradoxical deterioration of meningitis from IRD shortly after initiation of HAART.

Raised intracranial pressure

An important complication of cryptococcal or tuberculous meningitis is raised intracranial

pressure with or without communicating hydrocephalus. This can result in the impairment of
conscious level, deterioration in mobility as well as potentially irreversible visual loss. While
the patient is receiving specific therapy, lumbar puncture should be performed periodically
to monitor the CSF response and the CSF pressure should be recorded. Patients with high
CSF pressure should undergo repeated lumbar puncture at short intervals so as to control
the raised intracranial pressure. CT brain scan should also be repeated to detect any
increase in the severity of hydrocephalus. Ventricular or lumbar drainage may be necessary
for patients with clinical deterioration associated with persistent raised intracranial pressure
or progressive hydrocephalus despite repeated lumbar puncture and appropriate anti-
tuberculous therapy.

Focal brain lesions

Clinical manifestations and differential diagnoses

An HIV-infected patient with mass lesions in the brain may present with headache, focal
motor weakness or sensory impairment, visual or speech disturbance, seizures and impaired
conscious level. Physical examination may reveal hemiparesis, hemisensory impairment,
dysphasia or visual field defect.

The commoner opportunistic diseases that may present with mass lesions in the brain
include cryptococcoma, tuberculoma, toxoplasmosis, lymphoma and PML.

Assessment and management of focal brain lesions

The patient should be assessed for prior or coexisting tuberculosis, systemic fungal infection
as well as non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). History of injection drug use may suggest the
possibility of bacterial brain abscess. Physical examination should be performed to detect
any skin lesion, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly or cardiac murmur. Blood should be
sent for culture and tested for toxoplasma antibody and fungal antigen. Chest radiograph
should be performed to look for any pulmonary lesion. The aim is to identify any evidence of
systemic disease process which might provide clues to the aetiology of the cerebral lesion.

CT scan with contrast should be performed to determine the number and location of the
focal brain lesions, and such features as contrast ring enhancement, surrounding oedema,
mass effect and midline shift. If the lesion could not be clearly identified on CT scan, as with
lesions located in the posterior fossa or with little or no contrast enhancement, magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) should be performed for better delineation.

The management strategy varies with the radiological characteristics of the brain lesions on
CT scan and MRI. Focal brain lesions with contrast ring enhancement, mass effect and
surrounding oedema may be due to pyogenic brain abscess, tuberculoma, cerebral
toxoplasmosis or lymphoma. If the patient has history of intravenous drug use or is
clinically toxic with peripheral leucocytosis, high-dose antibiotics (ceftriaxone, metronidazole
with or without cloxacillin) should be started as soon as possible after blood has been taken
for bacterial culture. The lesions are more likely to represent tuberculoma or tuberculous
abscess if the patient has active tuberculosis and negative toxoplasma serology, especially if
meningeal enhancement is present on contrast CT scan. Anti-tuberculous regimen should be
optimised and corticosteroid therapy may be added, especially if there is significant mass
effect from the brain lesion or if the recently developed neurological symptoms could
represent IRD following initiation of HAART.

Managing cerebral toxoplasmosis

In other clinical settings, the commonest cause of contrast-enhancing brain lesions is

cerebral toxoplasmosis, especially if these are multiple and located in the basal ganglia or
grey-white matter junction. Toxoplasmosis usually occurs in HIV-infected patients with CD4
count below 50/μL. The majority of patients are positive for anti-toxoplasma IgG antibody.
Even if toxoplasma serology is negative, the patient should still receive empirical anti-
toxoplasma therapy with pyrimethamine (200 mg for one dose, then 50-75 mg daily) and
clindamycin (600 mg every 6 hours). Most patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis respond to
therapy within 2 weeks. In the setting of negative toxoplasma serology, use of
corticosteroid should be avoided unless the patient has significant mass effect causing
severe clinical symptoms, so as not to give a misleading impression of favourable response
to therapy.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL)

PCNSL is the other important differential diagnosis of contrast-enhancing cerebral mass

lesion. It may have similar radiological appearances to cerebral toxoplasmosis and diagnosis
may depend on stereotactic biopsy of the lesion following failure to respond to a two-week
empirical course of anti-toxoplasma therapy. Alternatively, thallium-201 single-photon
emission computerised tomography (SPECT) and PCR for EBV DNA in the CSF may help to
differentiate neoplastic from infective causes of cerebral mass lesion. Approach to
management is detailed in Chapter 33.

Other focal lesions

Lesions predominantly affecting the white matter with no mass effect or contrast
enhancement are usually due to PML (refer to chapter 30). Diagnosis is based on the
compatible clinical and MRI features. The frontal and parieto-occipital lobes are most
commonly affected with large single or multiple lesions with scalloping at the grey-white
junction. PCR examination of the CSF for JC virus (JCV) has a sensitivity of 75% and
specificity of near to 100%. Brain biopsy may be necessary for patients with negative PCR
for JCV on at least two examinations. There is no specific treatment for PML and the
mainstay is to improve the immune function with HAART.

Subacute encephalitis

Clinical manifestations and approach to management

Some HIV-infected patients may develop more diffuse disease process affecting the brain
function. The onset may be subacute or more insidious and the symptoms may range from
impairment in cognitive function, change in personality or mood, deterioration in motor
function to confusion or clouding of consciousness. Such clinical presentation is usually due
to HIV encephalopathy, resulting in the syndrome known as HAD. Differential diagnoses
include CMV encephalitis and neurosyphilis. Acute HIV infection may also present with an
encephalitic illness associated with seroconversion.

The patient should undergo investigations to identify any reversible causes of cognitive
impairment or confusion. Fundoscopic examination should be performed to look for evidence
of CMV retinitis. Blood should be tested for electrolytes, vitamin B12, folate, thyroid
hormone level, cryptococcal antigen and VDRL. The possibility of depression should be
considered and the patient should be referred to neuropsychologist to establish the baseline
cognitive function and to monitor the progress following treatment. CSF should be examined
for infective agents and electroencephalogram should be performed to look for any seizure
activities. CT scan and MRI should also be arranged to identify any cerebral mass lesions.

HIV encephalopathy and HAD

A patient with HIV encephalopathy usually presents with the triad of cognitive, motor and
behavioural disturbances. It can occur at any time during the HIV disease course but is
more common with advanced immunodeficiency. There is insidious onset of intellectual
decline, with forgetfulness, decreased concentration, slowing of thought process and
deterioration in work performance. In its mildest form, the patients may have only minor
cognitive motor disorder (MCMD) which may go unrecognised by the healthcare workers.
Motor disturbances may manifest as clumsiness, limb weakness and unsteadiness of gait.
The patient may have change in personality and become apathetic and withdrawn from the
usual hobbies and social activities. This is followed by progressive decline in memory,
language and other cognitive function ultimately resulting in severe psychomotor
retardation, akinetic mutism, frank dementia and organic psychosis.

Physical examination is usually normal but may reveal hyperreflexia and frontal release
signs, such as glabellar and snout reflexes. Neuropsychological tests show features
suggestive of a subcortical dementia, with abnormalities mainly in psychomotor speed,
verbal and non-verbal learning. The AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG) has used timed gait,
finger tapping (dominant hand), grooved pegboard and digit symbol as the screening tool
for HAD. There is non-specific mild lymphocytic pleocytosis and increased protein level in
the CSF. CT brain scan usually shows diffuse cerebral atrophy with ventricular dilatation and
MRI may show T2-hyperintense signals mainly in the periventricular white matter and
centrum semiovale with no mass effect or contrast enhancement. The diagnosis is usually
established by exclusion of other infective causes of encephalitis.

Patient with a presumptive diagnosis of HAD should be initiated on HAART to control HIV
replication. While some of the antiretroviral agents including protease inhibitors have only
limited CNS penetration, no single combination has been shown to be superior to others in
terms of effectiveness in treating HAD. If possible, zidovudine should be included in the
regimen since the drug was shown to be effective in one clinical trial. For patients already
receiving HAART, the CSF HIV RNA level may be checked to see if viral replication is
adequately suppressed and the HAART regimen needs to be intensified. Alternative
diagnoses should be considered in patients developing cognitive impairment while
responding to HAART.

CMV encephalitis

CMV infection and disease in the brain may be more common than is clinically recognised. It
may take the form of diffuse micronodular encephalitis or ventriculoencephalitis. It generally
occurs in the setting of advanced HIV disease with CD4 lymphocyte count below 50/μL. The
onset with ventriculoencephalitis is more acute with rapidly progressive lethargy and
confusion often associated with nystagmus and cranial nerve palsies. CMV encephalitis may
run a indolent course with features mimicking a more aggressive form of HAD with greater
propensity for delirium, confusion and focal neurological deficits. The patients generally run
a rapidly progressive course leading to death within a few weeks. It may occur in the setting
of CMV disease elsewhere in the body, and the patient may already be receiving ganciclovir
therapy, raising the possibility of drug-resistant virus. Electrolyte disturbances such as
hyponatraemia and hyperkalaemia may suggest presence of adrenal insufficiency from CMV
adrenalitis.

On investigation, CT scan and MRI may show similar findings to HIV encephalitis with
cerebral atrophy with ventricular dilatation and diffuse T2-hyperintense lesions in the white
matter but there may be evidence of ventricular or meningeal enhancement. CSF may show
polymorphonuclear pleocytosis as well as increased protein and decreased glucose level.
PCR for CMV DNA is usually positive and is predictive of CMV encephalitis in the appropriate
clinical context. Quantitative assay for CMV DNA in the CSF may have prognostic
implications and can be used to monitor the response to treatment.

Patients with CMV encephalitis may not respond well to ganciclovir or foscarnet, especially if
they are already on this treatment for systemic CMV disease. Combination therapy with
ganciclovir (5 mg/kg every 12 hours) and foscarnet (60 mg/kg every 8 hours) may be
administered in view of the disease severity and poor prognosis. Maintenance therapy with
ganciclovir (5 mg/kg daily) and foscarnet (90 mg/kg daily) is necessary for patients with
clinical response.
Neuromuscular disease

Differential diagnoses

HIV-infected patients may develop complications due to disease process affecting the
peripheral nerves, spinal nerve roots, spinal cord or muscles. The symptomatology is
determined by the pattern of anatomical involvement and each is associated with different
underlying aetiology. An acute inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy (Guillain Barré
syndrome) may occur early in the course of HIV infection, including the setting of acute HIV
seroconversion illness. Mononeuritis multiplex affecting the cranial or peripheral nerves may
also occur during early disease stage and may be due directly to HIV or coexisting CMV
infection. More commonly the patients develop peripheral neuropathy which is
predominantly sensory and affects the lower limbs. This is usually due to HIV-associated
DSPN but may also be caused by nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors such as
stavudine, didanosine, zalcitabine or other potentially neurotoxic drugs like isoniazid,
especially if more than one such agents are used in combination.

Less commonly the patient may present with progressive HIV polyradiculopathy during
advanced stage of the disease and the main differential diagnoses are polyradiculitis
associated with CMV, herpes simplex virus (HSV) or variciella zoster virus (VZV). Meningeal
inflammation due to tuberculosis, neurosyphilis, cryptococcosis and lymphoma may also
lead to a pattern of multiple spinal nerve roots involvement. Spinal cord involvement may
be due to myelitis associated with acute HIV seroconversion illness or CMV disease. More
insidious spinal cord disease with predominant involvement of the posterior column may be
due to tabes dorsalis, subacute combined degeneration of the cord or HIV-associated
vacuolar myelopathy. A proximal myopathy with ragged red fibres on muscle biopsy is
associated with mitochondrial pathology from use of zidovudine.

Assessment of HIV patients presenting with neuromuscular symptomatology

The drug history should be reviewed and systematic workup should be conducted for other
common causes of neuromuscular disorder. Blood tests should be performed for fasting
glucose, creatine phosphokinase, vitamin B12 and folate levels, or any evidence of lactic
acidosis associated with the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Patients developing
neuropathy or polyradiculopathy should undergo nerve conduction studies and
electromyography (EMG) to define the characteristics, extent and severity of the
neuropathy. Nerve biopsy should be considered if there is presence of mixed sensorimotor
involvement. If the clinical features are predominantly confined to the lower limbs, MRI
should be performed to define any pathological changes in the spinal cord or cauda equina.
If polyradiculitis is suspected, CSF should be examined for MTB, cryptococcal antigen, VDRL,
HSV, VZV, CMV and abnormal cells suggesting presence of lymphoma.

HIV-associated DSPN usually occurs in the setting of advanced immunodeficiency. There is

gradual onset of numbness, paraesthesia and burning discomfort in a glove-and-stocking
distribution mainly affecting the lower limbs while muscle power is generally preserved. CMV
polyradiculopathy tends to present with rapidly progressive pain, sensory loss, ascending
flaccid paralysis and areflexia involving the lower limbs with bladder and bowel sphincter
disturbance. This also occurs in the setting of advanced immunodeficiency with CD4
lymphocyte count below 50/μL. Nerve conduction studies usually show delayed or absent F
waves while EMG reveals denervation in the lower limb muscles. CSF shows
polymorphonuclear leucocytosis, raised protein and decreased glucose level and positivity
for CMV DNA by PCR. MRI may show thickening and clumping of the affected nerve roots,
enlargement of the conus medullaris and contrast enhancement of the leptomeninges. HIV-
associated vacuolar myelopathy has a more insidious onset with slow progressive painless
weakness, spasticity and sensory loss involving the lower limbs together with sphincter
disturbance. There is usually no sensory level and if present should suggest an alternative
diagnosis. It usually occurs in the setting of advanced immunodeficiency often in
conjunction with HAD and DSPN. CSF examination is usually normal and MRI may show cord
atrophy or some T2-hyperintensity in the posterior column.

Treatment

The management of neuromuscular syndrome is mainly symptomatic. The offending drug

should be identified and withdrawn. Immune function should be optimised with HAART.
Specific therapy should be administered if CMV polyradiculitis is diagnosed. The neurological
deficit may not improve despite treatment of the underlying aetiology especially in patients
with severe myelopathy and radiculopathy. Physiotherapy and occupational therapy should
be offered to help the patients overcome the physical disability. Painful sensory symptoms
may require palliation with analgesics, tricyclic antidepressant and antiepileptic drugs. The
latter includes carbamazepine, gabapentin, sodium valproate and lamotrigine. It should be
noted that carbamazepine may result in drug interaction with the antiretroviral agents and
its use should be avoided.

Stroke-like syndrome

HIV-infected patients may also develop a stroke-like syndrome consisting of sudden onset
of focal neurological dysfunction such as weakness, sensory loss, visual or speech
disturbance. As the patients are surviving longer with HAART and many develop
hypertension and metabolic complications including diabetes mellitus,
hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia, they become at risk of cerebrovascular
disease. This may take the form of ischaemic stroke and intracranial haemorrhage.

They may also develop focal ischaemic brain injury from vasculitis or perivascular
inflammation related to infectious such as tuberculosis, cryptococcosis and meningovascular
syphilis. Ischaemic stroke may also develop in association with coagulopathy including anti-
phospholipid syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura as well as vasculopathy
following radiotherapy for PCNSL. Intracranial haemorrhage may occur in relation to
thrombocytopaenia or poorly controlled hypertension. Patients with history of injecting drug
use may develop infective endocarditis which can lead to embolic stroke or haemorrhage
from mycotic aneurysm. Cocaine use may also result in abrupt increase in blood pressure
causing haemorrhage or vasospasm causing ischaemic stroke.

The clinical history should be reviewed for history of injecting or recreational drug use,
hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia and smoking habit. Blood should be
examined for platelet count, renal function tests, fasting glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride
and VDRL. Blood culture, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram should be performed if
cardiac source of embolus is suspected. Younger patients should also be tested for
cardiolipin antibody and lupus anticoagulant. CT brain scan should be performed to
differentiate ischaemic from haemorrhagic stroke.

Management should follow the same principles as for the usual patients with stroke. The
should be admitted to organised stroke care programme with stabilisation of the vital signs,
prevention of complications such as aspiration or deep vein thrombosis, and early
rehabilitation. Underlying predisposing causes should be appropriately managed to prevent
stroke recurrence and aspirin should be prescribed as secondary prophylaxis in patients with
ischaemic stroke.

Further reading

1. Evaluation and management of intracranial mass lesions in AIDS. Report of the Quality
Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology 1998;50:21-6.

2. Brew BJ. HIV neurology. Contemporary Neurology Series. Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 2001.

3. McArthur JC, Haughey N, Gartner S, et al. Human immunodeficiency virus-associated

dementia: an evolving disease. J Neurovirol 2003;9:205-21.
4. Verma S, Micsa E, Estanislao L, Simpson D. Neuromuscular complications in HIV. Curr
Neurol Neurosci Rep 2004;4:62-7.

5. Bradley WG, Daroff RB, Fenichel GM. Neurological manifestations of human

immunodeficiency virus infection in adults. Neurol Clin Pract 2004; 2:1581-1602.

6. Manji H, Miller R. The neurology of HIV infection. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2004;75
Suppl 1:i29-35.

7. McArthur JC, Brew BJ, Nath A. Neurological complications of HIV infection. Lancet Neurol
2005;4:543-55.

8. Nath A, Sacktor N. Influence of highly active antiretroviral therapy on persistence of HIV

in the central nervous system. Curr Opin Neurol 2006;19:358-61.