[HIV-associated myelopathy: an uncommon indicator of AIDS].
BACKGROUND
Spinal cord lesions are an uncommon mode of discovering acquired immunodeficiency syndrome because they usually appear at a later stage.


METHODS
We report a 58-year-old patient who had a spastic paraparesia and sphincter dysfunction. The spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging showed spontaneous hypersignals on T2-weighted images at the cervical and thoracic levels, enhanced with gadolinium, and without swelling. No cause was found. The HIV serology was positive and allowed us to consider an HIV-associated myelopathy. The antiretroviral therapy led to functional recovery.


CONCLUSIONS
An HIV serology is suggested whenever an unexplained intramedullary lesion is discovered. Indeed, the diagnosis of HIV-associated myelopathy implies a specific therapeutic approach.
Konaté
A
A
Service de médecine interne A, hôpital Saint-Eloi, 80, avenue Augustin-Fliche, 34295 Montpellier, France.
Ceballos
P
P
Rivière
S
S
Faucherre
V
V
Ciurana
A J
AJ
Le Quellec
A
A
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009187:Myelitis; D020336:Paraparesis, Spastic / Q000209:etiology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology