Home| Journals | Statistics Online Expert | About Us | Contact Us

[Abstract] [PDF] [HTML] [Linked References]

International Journal of Recent Trends in Science and Technology, ISSN 2277-2812 E-ISSN: 2249-8109

Volume 4, Issue 2, 2012 pp 106-111

Research Article

Study of CNS Infections in HIV Positive Patients

Hemant Mahajan¹, Deepak Bhutkar², Naresh Gill³, Maya Padvi⁴

¹Assistant Professor, RCSM GMC Kolhapur, Maharashtra, INDIA.

^{2, 3, 4} Junior Resident, TN Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, INDIA.

Academic Editor:  Dr. Aher K. R.

Objective: 1) To study proportions of various central nervous system infections in HIV positive patients. 2) To study the correlation between central nervous systems infections and CD4 counts. Material and Methods: A cross sectional observational study was conducted at TN Medical College Mumbai. Total 50 HIV positive patients having neurological manifestations were included in this study. The information was gathered by personal interview using semi-structured proforma. Results:  shows majority of the patients 37 (74%) were males and 33 (66%) of patients were from 30 to 49 years of age group. Maximum patients had TB meningitis followed by tuberculoma. Only 10 (20%) of patients had CD4 counts more than 200 of which 9 (90%) were males. Patients’ on anti-retroviral therapy had more mean CD4 count. Patients diagnosed with Toxoplasmosis and Neurocysticercosis had minimum CD-4 cell count of 50 to 100.  42 (84%)  HIV patients with neurological complication had other opportunistic infections and most of these patients had CD4 count less than 200. Total42 (84%) of 50 patients had associated opportunistic infections of which 17 (40.5%) had pulmonary tuberculosis, 13(30.9%) had abdominal tuberculosis. Of these 42 patients having associated opportunistic infection 26 (61.9%) patients were not taking ART. Opportunistic infections were more common in patient’s not taking ART.  Summary and Conclusion: In our study it was found that opportunistic infections were the most common cause of neurological involvement in HIV infected patients. The mean CD4 count was significantly low in all neurological manifestations suggesting severe immunosuppression. Thus neurological manifestations can serve as a good predictor of the advanced HIV infection. Hence CD4 count can serve as an indicator for initiation of chemoprophylaxis of certain opportunistic infections.