CALCIFYING ARTERIOPATHY IN THE BASAL GANGLIA IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION

Echogenic stripes in the basal ganglia were identified sonographically in a 4-month-old infant with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infec tion. This lenticulostriate arteriopathy correlated well with histolog ically identified early alterations of HIV encephalopathy in children. At 3 years and 5 months, CT examination performed after three seizure s showed calcification in the area of the sonographically affected art eries but no signs of progressive encephalopathy. The child's mental a nd motor development have remained normal until now. Cerebral sonograp hy performed in early infancy may allow identification of HIV encephal opathy even before its clinical manifestation.