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AIDS dementia complex and Hashimoto encephalopathy in a senescent woman
Author(s) -
Waltereit Robert,
SchulteBrochterbeck Gudrun,
Wiltfang Jens,
Frölich Lutz
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.1820
Subject(s) - dementia , encephalopathy , medicine , pathophysiology , pediatrics , psychiatry , pathology , disease
Abstract AIDS dementia complex is one of the specific infectious dementias, which is rarely seen in senescent (>75 years of age) subjects. Hashimoto encephalopathy has been described as the cause of several neurological and psychiatric syndromes including dementia. The proposed pathophysiological mechanism is an autoimmune reaction to shared, thyroid gland and CNS epitopes with subsequent cerebral dysfunction. We report here the first case of a patient who fulfils both, the criteria for AIDS dementia complex and Hashimoto encephalopathy, yet being unresponsive to steroid therapy. Diagnostic and therapeutic implications are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.