Cerebral infarction related to cryptococcal meningitis in an HIV-infected patient: case report and literature review
Leite, Aéa.Gurgel.Batista.; Vidal, Jé.E.; Bonasser Filho, F.; Nogueira, R.Schiavon.; Oliveira, A.César.Penalva.de.
Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases An Official Publication of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases 8(2): 175-179
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 1413-8670 PMID: 15361996 Document Number: 241955
Neurological dysfunction as the first manifestation of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), has been found in 10-20% of symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. However, stroke has rarely been reported in AIDS patients. The most common causes of cerebral infarction in AIDS are central nervous system infections; toxoplasmosis, cryptococcal meningitis and tuberculosis. Potential vascular mechanisms for cerebral infarction and transient neurological deficits among AIDS patients include deposition of antigen-antibody complexes with vasculitis and infarction, and a direct toxic effect of a viral antigen or infectious agent on vascular endothelium. The role of cryptococcal meningitis in vasculopathy is still not clear. A case of cerebral infarction in an HIV-infected patient from Sao Paulo, Brazil, with cryptococcal meningitis as the first manifestation of AIDS, is presented.