Acute meningoradiculitis concomitant with seroconversion to human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases
• Virology

Background:

• Meningoradiculitis can present with diverse neurological symptoms.
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection can manifest with various neurological complications.
• The co-occurrence of meningoradiculitis and primary HIV-1 infection is uncommon.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of acute regressive meningoradiculitis associated with primary HIV-1 infection.
• To describe the clinical, electrophysiological, and virological findings in this specific case.
• To highlight the diagnostic methods for HIV-1 infection in the context of neurological symptoms.

Main Methods:

• Clinical case presentation and neurological examination.
• Electromyography (EMG) to assess nerve and muscle function.
• Biological assays including viral antigen detection, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for proviral DNA, and Western blot for HIV-1 antibodies.

Main Results:

• The patient presented with mild meningoradiculitis symptoms that resolved spontaneously.
• Electromyography indicated a regressive demyelinating process.
• HIV-1 infection was confirmed through viral antigen, proviral DNA (PCR), and a progressive antibody response detected by three Western blot kits.

Conclusions:

• Acute regressive meningoradiculitis can be a manifestation of primary HIV-1 infection.
• Early diagnosis of HIV-1 is crucial, even with mild or atypical neurological presentations.
• A combination of diagnostic tools, including electrophysiology and sensitive virological assays, is essential for accurate diagnosis.