Open AccessHIV vasculopathy versus VZV vasculitis in an HIV patient with multiple brain ischaemic infarcts
Author(s) -
Manuel F Granja,
André Monteiro,
Jason S. Day,
Ricardó A. Hanel
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2019-229412
Subject(s) - medicine , vasculitis , ischaemic stroke , stroke (engine) , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , weakness , differential diagnosis , emergency department , pediatrics , intensive care medicine , disease , immunology , surgery , pathology , ischemia , psychiatry , mechanical engineering , engineering
We report the case of a 56-year-old man who presented to the emergency department with a 3-day onset of left limb weakness and feeling intoxicated with poor balance. Stroke hospitalisations in the USA decreased from 2000 to 2010, however the number of hospitalised patients with ischaemic stroke and HIV infection has increased significantly. Herein, we discuss the management of this unique case to highlight the importance of a broad differential diagnosis when approaching HIV/AIDS patients presenting with acute or subacute neurological focalisation. Given that HIV vasculopathy is a diagnosis of exclusion, it requires a thoughtful elimination of all possible aetiologies.