Haemorrhagic transformation of cerebral infarction in an AIDS patient – thrombophaelia screen essential!

Abstract

Patients with advanced HIV disease with low CD4 count are more prone to thrombo-embolism and various predisposing factors have been identified. These include the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies and the lupus anticoagulant, deficiencies of proteins C and S, heparin co-factor II and antithrombin. Increased levels of Von Willebrand factor and d-dimers have also been linked with thrombo-embolism, as has the presence of concurrent infections and malignancies. We report a case of an AIDS patient who presented with acute hemiparesis. He was severely immunosuppressed. Computed tomography of the head confirmed cerebral infarction with haemorrhagic transformation. He had no known risk factors apart from being severely immunocompromised and had high anticardiolipin antibodies and low free protein S.

An unusual cause of abdominal pain in an HIV-positive man

“…Risk factors include low CD4 counts, the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant, low levels of proteins C and S, heparin cofactor II and antithrombin. The presence of anticardiolipin antibodies is linked with arterial and venous thrombosis whereas deficiencies of proteins C and S are associated with venous thrombosis 1 2. There have been a few reports of SMVT developing in patients with HIV infection 3…”

An unusual cause of abdominal pain in an HIV-positive man

“…Risk factors include low CD4 counts, the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant, low levels of proteins C and S, heparin cofactor II and antithrombin. The presence of anticardiolipin antibodies is linked with arterial and venous thrombosis whereas deficiencies of proteins C and S are associated with venous thrombosis 1 2. There have been a few reports of SMVT developing in patients with HIV infection 3…”

An unusual cause of abdominal pain in an HIV-positive man

“…Risk factors include low CD4 counts, the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant, low levels of proteins C and S, heparin cofactor II and antithrombin. The presence of anticardiolipin antibodies is linked with arterial and venous thrombosis whereas deficiencies of proteins C and S are associated with venous thrombosis 1 2. There have been a few reports of SMVT developing in patients with HIV infection 3…”

An unusual cause of abdominal pain in an HIV-positive man

“…Risk factors include low CD4 counts, the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant, low levels of proteins C and S, heparin cofactor II and antithrombin. The presence of anticardiolipin antibodies is linked with arterial and venous thrombosis whereas deficiencies of proteins C and S are associated with venous thrombosis 1 2. There have been a few reports of SMVT developing in patients with HIV infection 3…”