ACUTE DIFFUSE LEUKOENCEPHALITIS IN HIV-1 INFECTION

The clinical, neuroradiological, and cerebrospinal fluid findings of a case with acute diffuse leukoencephalitis, a demyelinating disease as sociated with human immunodeficiency virus infection of the brain, is reported. The patient presented with acute tetraparesis as the primary manifestation of a previously symptom free HIV infection. Cerebrospin al fluid analysis Showed enhanced inflammatory abnormalities with high concentrations of P24 antigen. MRI showed diffuse white matter hyperi ntensities in both hemispheres. In the follow up over 22 months, the n eurological deficits disappeared after antiretroviral treatment in goo d correlation with improvements in MRI as well as in inflammatory cere brospinal fluid abnormalities.