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06:01
A Thrombotic Stroke Model Based On Transient Cerebral Hypoxia-ischemia
Published on: August 18, 2015
Cerebral infarction in patients with AIDS
A R Gillams1, E Allen, K Hrieb
1Department of Radiology, Boston University Medical School, MA, USA.
AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology
|September 20, 1997
Summary
Cerebral infarction occurred in 18% of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a higher rate than previously known. Multifactorial causes, including infections and substance abuse, contributed to this increased risk.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Radiology
Background:
- Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is associated with various neurological complications.
- Cerebral infarction (stroke) is a recognized but not fully understood complication in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence, location, and causes of cerebral infarction in patients with AIDS using Magnetic Resonance (MR) imaging.
- To investigate the pathogenesis of stroke in this vulnerable population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 71 abnormal cranial MR studies in HIV-positive patients over two years.
- Analysis of lesion distribution, associated abnormalities, and MR angiography findings.
- Correlation with clinical data, laboratory results, and potential etiologic factors from patient charts.
Main Results:
- Cerebral infarction was detected in 13 of 71 patients (18%), with 22 infarcts identified.
- The basal ganglia were the most commonly affected area (15 infarcts).
- Infectious causes were implicated in five patients; substance abuse (cocaine/IVDU) was noted in six. MR angiography revealed vasculitis in two patients.
Conclusions:
- The observed 18% frequency of cerebral infarction in AIDS patients is higher than previously reported.
- Stroke pathogenesis in this cohort is multifactorial, with infections playing a significant role in 39% of cases.
- Idiopathic vasculitis was identified as a cause in two patients.
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