Open AccessProgressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy in AIDS camouflaged with catatonia: A wolf in sheep′s clothing
Author(s) -
Pradeep Kumar,
Mayank Jain
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
indian journal of psychiatry/indian journal of psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1998-3794
pISSN - 0019-5545
DOI - 10.4103/0019-5545.31625
Subject(s) - akinetic mutism , stupor , catatonia , medicine , dementia , psychiatry , psychology , pediatrics , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , pathology , disease , encephalopathy
Progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (PML) may pose a clinical and diagnostic dilemma. The patient may remain in a protracted psychotic state with negative symptoms, without overt features of dementia. The condition blends with catatonia, and eventually with akinetic mutism in a patient of AIDS in the absence of clinical evidence of an immunocompromised state. The present case report highlights the need for an in-depth clinical, biochemical and MRI assessment of patients with catatonia and akinetic mutism. Stupor of an 'akinetic mutism' pattern seems an important indication for HIV screening, particularly in high-risk patients.