title: [Hemiballismus disclosing cerebral toxoplasmosis and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].
abstract: A 33-year-old Saudi woman presented with right hemiballismus of recent onset. Brain CT showed a left thalamo-subthalamic lesion which was thought initially to be a metastasis or a tuberculoma. The presence of severe subacute diarrhea, multiple lymphadenopathies and lymphopenia suggested an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Tests for HIV-1 infection were positive and, despite the absence of antitoxoplasma antibodies in the serum, antitoxoplasmic treatment by pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine was given. One and a half month later, both abnormal movements and CT images had disappeared. The probable source of HIV infection was imported packed red blood cells received by the patient 5 years earlier. Toxoplasmic brain abscess associated with AIDS should be considered as a possible cause of hemiballismus in young adult even in the regions where AIDS is still infrequent.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Neurology, King Faisal University, Dammam, Arabie Saoudite.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Awada
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016781:Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
vernacular_title: Hémiballisme révélateur d'une toxoplasmose cérébrale et d'un syndrome d'immunodéficience acquise.