Central nervous system involvement in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Central nervous system involvement occurred in 28 of 121 patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The major risk factor in this AIDS population was intravenous drug abuse (64%). A neurologic symptom or disability was the principal reason for hospitalization in 16 cases (57%). Three patients had primary lymphoma of the brain and the remainder had opportunistic infections. Patients with focal neurological features usually had toxoplasmosis. Progressive headache and meningeal signs occurred with cryptococcosis. A progressive subacute dementia was probably due to cytomegalovirus. Other infections included atypical mycobacteria, candida, herpes zoster and possible progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.