Neurological Complications of HIV
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Top Contributors - Cindy John-Chu, Melissa Coetsee, Kim Jackson and Nupur Smit Shah
Introduction[edit | edit source]
The Human Immunodefeciency Virus (HIV) is a virus known to attack cells of the body's immune system thus, causing the body to become prone to opportunistic infections.[1] HIV infection can also lead to neurologic complications as the the virus belongs to a class of viruses ( the lentiviruses) that are known to pose a high risk of developing chronic neurologic diseases in their human hosts.[2]
Aetiology[edit | edit source]
Neurological conditions from HIV infection can occur throughout the various stages of the infection[3]. However, they may occur commonly at the clinical stages III and IV[4]. There are three possible mechanisms by which the HIV infection can damage the nervous system. They are through:
- Direct HIV infection
- Opportunistic infections
- Autoimmunity[4]
Neurologic Presentations of HIV[edit | edit source]
Neurological disorders consequent of HIV infection include the following:
- Spastic paraparesis
- Peripheral neuropathies (e.g. Distal symmetric polyneuropathy)
- Polyradiculopathy
- Neuropathy
- Myelopathy
- Seizures
- HIV-associated dementia
- Stroke[2][5]
Resources[edit | edit source]
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ HIV.gov. What Are HIV and AIDS? Available from: https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/overview/about-hiv-and-aids/what-are-hiv-and-aids (accessed 17 September, 2020).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 McGuire D/ University of California San Francisco. Neurologic Manifestations of HIV: HIV Insite Knowledge Base Chapter June 2003. Available from: https://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/Insite?page=kb-04-01-02 (accessed 17 September, 2020).
- ↑ Modi G, Mochan A and Modi M. Neurological Manifestations of HIV. In: Okware SI (ed.) Advances in HIV and AIDS Control. Rijeka InTech 2018. Available from: https://www.intechopen.com/books/advances-in-hiv-and-aids-control/neurological-manifestations-of-hiv (accessed 18 September, 2020)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Howlett PW. Neurological Disorders in HIV in Africa: A Review. African Health Sciences. 2019; 19(suppl 2): A Review. African Health Sciences. 2019; 19(suppl2):1953-1977.
- ↑ Patrick CK. Neurological Complications of HIV Infection. Available from: https://www.aids.gov.hk/pdf/g190htm/19.htm (accessed 18 September, 2020)