ABSTRACT

A wide variety of disorders of diverse pathogenic mechanisms can trigger spinal cord dysfunction in HIV-1-infected patients. The most common such condition is HIV-1-associated myelopathy (HM) which characteristically complicates advanced HIV-1 disease in patients with low CD4 cell counts and previous AIDS-defining diagnoses. We describe an unusual presentation of HM in a previously asymptomatic patient with a relatively preserved CD4 cell count (458 cells/mm3) who was even unaware of his serological status. The patient presented with a clinically severe, slowly progressive myelopathy and could not walk unassisted. Significant neurological improvement could be obtained as rapidly as within 4 weeks after the institution of an antiretroviral combination of only two nucleoside analog HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors (zidovudine and didanosine). An HIV-1 protease inhibitor was also prescribed at that point but could only be added to intensify the regimen 3 months later, when significant neurological improvement had already been recorded. We also review the disorders reported to derange spinal cord function in previously asymptomatic HIV-1-infected patients.

A infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana atinge o Sistema Nervoso Central nos estágios iniciais, causando manifestações neuropsicológicas. Com o objetivo de estudar o desempenho de indivíduos infectados por este vírus em relação às funções cognitivas, foram avaliados 20 pacientes com contagem de linfócitos CD4+ acima de 200 células/mm³, utilizando-se a Escala de Inteligência Wechsler para Adultos. Destes, cinco (25%) eram do sexo masculino e 15 (75%) do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 39,65 desvio-padrão de 10,15 anos. A contagem média de linfócitos CD4+ foi 467,20 desvio-padrão de 215,45 células/mm?. Dentre quatorze pacientes que fizeram uso de terapia antirretroviral de alta atividade foi observado um caso com desempenho das funções cognitivas atenção e aprendizagem muito abaixo da média; os demais (n=13) tiveram desempenho dentro da média. Por meio da Escala de Inteligência Wechsler para Adultos foi possível detectar desempenho abaixo do nível médio do funcionamento cognitivo em indivíduos com resultado positivo para vírus da imunodeficiência humana, mesmo em vigência de terapia antirretroviral de alta atividade.

The development of paradoxical clinical worsening following initiation of tuberculosis treatment may complicate the clinical course of both HIV-infected and uninfected patients. We report a severe manifestation of the so called paradoxical reaction to the treatment of tuberculosis that unmasked previously silent meningeal disease in a 34-year-old HIV-infected male patient. Key-words: AIDS. Antiretroviral therapy. Paradoxical reaction. Tuberculosis. Tuberculous meningitis.Resumo O desenvolvimento de piora clínica paradoxal como resposta ao início do tratamento da tuberculose pode complicar a evolução de pacientes com e sem infecção pelo HIV. Apresentamos uma grave manifestação da chamada reação paradoxal ao tratamento da tuberculose, que revelou doença meníngea previamente silenciosa em um paciente HIV-positivo de 34 anos. Palavras-chaves: AIDS. Meningite tuberculosa. Reação paradoxal. Terapia anti-retroviral. Tuberculose. Concomitantly treating active tuberculosis (TB) and HIV infection is a challenging task. There is a great potential for adverse effects and clinically significant pharmacological interactions. The development of paradoxical clinical worsening on TB treatment may further complicate patient management. We report a life-threatening manifestation of paradoxical worsening following TB treatment initiation in an antiretroviral (AR)-experienced patient. CASE REPORTA 34-year-old HIV-infected male patient with previous experience to the HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors zidovudine and didanosine, to the HIV protease inhibitor saquinavir and on Pneumocystis carinii prophylaxis developed an enlarging cervical mass associated with a 2-month history of fever, weigh loss and malaise. At that point laboratory evaluation showed mild anemia (hemoglobin 11,3mg/dL), 60 CD4 cells/mm 3 and a plasma HIV viral load of 25,000 copies/mL (all viral load measurements were performed using the nucleic acid sequence-based amplification assay). Chest X-ray was normal. He had never had an opportunistic disorder but was treated for pleural TB during early adulthood. Histopathology disclosed TB lymphadenitis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis grew from the node aspirate. Rifabutin (as an alternative rifamycin to be combined with a protease inhibitor) at a dose of 150mg/day, isoniazid, pyridoxine and pyrazinamide were started and the AR regimen was changed to stavudine, lamivudine and indinavir. He significantly improved and remained well until ten weeks later when recrudescence of fever and severe headache developed. Signs of meningeal irritation were absent, as were cognitive, behavioral or focal neurologic abnormalities. Computed tomography of the brain was normal. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies revealed marked pleocytosis (220 cells/mm 3 , 71% polymorphonuclear, 29% mononuclear cells), glucose 52mg/dL and elevated protein (156mg/dL) and were negative for acid-fast bacilli, mycobacterial cultures, other infectious agents and neoplastic cells. Ophthalmologic examination disclosed TB choroidal nodules (previous evalu...

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