title: Subacute AIDS-related lumbosacral radiculopathy: a bacterial infection?
abstract: A case of lumbosacral polyradiculitis in an HIV-1-positive man (CDC IIB) leading to a flaccid paraplegia below the level of L4 is reported. A detailed analysis of several cerebrospinal fluid samples led to the suspicion of a bacterial infection. After treatment with antibiotics and tuberculostatic agents the neuropathy improved and the patient has survived for 2 years. In contrast to similar cases that were probably caused by cytomegalovirus in terminal stages of AIDS, it is argued that an unidentified bacterial infection was the cause of the polyradiculitis in the present case.
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Abteilung, Allgemeines Krankenhaus St. Georg, Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Igloffstein
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vogel
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000209:etiology*; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology; D012074:Remission Induction; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents