Opportunistic infections of the central nervous system in human immunodeficiency virus-(HIV-) infected individuals
Abstract
Impairment of the nervous system may occur practically anytime during of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infection. Diseases may be either primary - caused directly by HIV - or secondary - infections caused by various microorganisms or neoplasms.
With worsening of cellular immunodeficiency, conditions for opportunistic infections arise. The opportunistic infections include particularly three typical diagnoses: toxoplasmic encephalitis, cryptococcus meningitis, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has changed significantly incidence of CNS complications, opportunistic infections occur less frequently, primary cerebral lymphoma is rare nowadays. Nevertheless, after starting of an efficient regimen, at least minimal signs of neurocognitive disorder can be found in many patients.