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Updated: May 21, 2026

Exergaming in Older People Living with HIV Improves Balance, Mobility and Ameliorates Some Aspects of Frailty
Published on: October 6, 2016
47 year-old man with HIV infection and hemiplegia
Abstract:
CNS aspergillosis is often missed in the setting of advanced HIV infection, especially in the absence of presumed risk factors such as neutropenia or prior steroid treatment. We describe the postmortem evaluation of the brain of a patient with AIDS that developed progressive neurologic deterioration. Sequence brain MRIs, CSF analysis, and multiple presumed treatments failed to reveal the possible causes or improve his ongoing condition. His brain autopsy showed numerous abscesses with septated hyphae consistent with CNS angioinvasive aspergillosis.
Insights
Central nervous system (CNS) aspergillosis is frequently misdiagnosed in advanced HIV infection, even without typical risk factors. Autopsy revealed invasive aspergillosis as the cause of neurological decline in an AIDS patient.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathology
Background:
- Advanced HIV infection presents diagnostic challenges for opportunistic infections.
- Central nervous system (CNS) aspergillosis is a rare but severe fungal infection.
- Typical risk factors like neutropenia or steroid use may be absent.
Observation:
- A patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) experienced progressive neurological deterioration.
- Serial brain MRIs and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analyses were inconclusive.
- Multiple treatments did not alleviate the patient's worsening condition.
Findings:
- Postmortem brain examination revealed numerous abscesses.
- Histopathology showed septated hyphae characteristic of angioinvasive aspergillosis.
- This confirmed CNS aspergillosis as the cause of the neurological decline.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering CNS aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients, even without classic risk factors.
- Suggests that diagnostic delays can occur in cases of atypical presentation.
- Emphasizes the utility of postmortem examination in identifying challenging diagnoses.
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