Clinical Profile of Neurological Manifestations in HIV-Reactive Patients and Their Relation with CD4 Count.

Background: Neurologic abnormalities have been noted in one-third of patients with AIDS, but at autopsy the nervous system is affected in all of them. Aim: To study the clinical profile of neurological manifestations in HIV reactive patients and their correlation with CD4 counts. Methods: A randomized case study was conducted at Department of Medicine, Government Medical College, Patiala over a period of 2 years. 200 HIV-infected adult and adolescent patients (>15 years of age) were studied. The diagnosis of HIV was confirmed by 3 HIV ELISA& RAPID positive reports in symptomatic patients. Results: In the present study, 37% of the patients were in the age group of 26-35 years. Males are affected more frequently than females, with a male to female sex ratio of 2.56: 1. Meningitis, HIV associated dementia, Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy& peripheral neuropathy are the commonest neurological disorders observed in HIV-infected patients. Tuberculosis is the commonest opportunistic infection in retroviral positive patients. Conclusion: Central nervous system infections, intracranial mass lesions, stroke, and HIV-associated dementia are more common in patients with a CD4+ count less than 200.