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African Health Sciences
Makerere University Medical School
ISSN: 1680-6905 EISSN: 1680-6905
Vol. 16, No. 2, 2016, pp. 603-610
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Bioline Code: hs16076
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
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African Health Sciences, Vol. 16, No. 2, 2016, pp. 603-610
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Cerebro-meningeal infections in HIV-infected patients: a study of 116 cases in Libreville, Gabon.
Ondounda, Magloire; Ilozue, Chinenye & Magne, Caroline
Abstract
Background: Cerebro-meningeal pathology is common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and the aetiology is
often difficult to ascertain with certainty.
Objective: To describe the major suspected and identified causes of meningeal or encephalitic syndromes in HIV infection in
Libreville, Gabon.
Methods: A descriptive study using clinical records of patients hospitalised in the Department of Medicine in the Military
Hospital of Libreville (Gabon) between January 2006 and May 2010. Clinical features were evaluated using multivariable logistic
regression to evaluate association with the outcome of a clinical improvement or death.
Results: The most frequent neurological symptoms were reduced level of consciousness (54.3%), headache (55.2%), motor
deficit (38.7%), and convulsions (36.2%). Cerebral toxoplasmosis represented 64.7% of diagnoses, followed by cryptococcal
neuromeningitis in 12.9% of cases. Tuberculoma was diagnosed in 4 cases and lymphoma in 2 cases. In 9.5% of cases, no
aetiology was determined. Toxoplasmosis treatment led to clinical improvement in 69.3% of cases with suspected cerebral toxoplasmosis.
Overall mortality was 39.7%.
Conclusion: The diagnosis of neurological conditions in HIV positive patients is difficult, particularly in a low-resource setting.
A trial of treatment for toxoplasmosis should be initiated first line with all signs of neurological pathology in a patient infected
with HIV.
Keywords
Cerebral lesion; neuromeningitis; HIV; Libreville; Gabon
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