Stroke in black South African HIV-positive patients: a prospective analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Stroke associated with HIV infection is poorly characterized. In this study we analyze the association in a black African population.


METHODS
The clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of 35 hospital-based black South African, heterosexual, HIV-infected patients who did not abuse intravenous drugs and presented with strokes were prospectively studied. The patients were antiretroviral therapy naive. Patients with other intracranial space-occupying lesions were excluded from the study.


RESULTS
The age range was 20 to 61 years (mean, 32.1 years). There were 21 female and 14 male patients, with a female to male ratio of 1.5:1. Cerebral infarction occurred in 33 patients (94%) and intracerebral hemorrhage in 2 patients (6%). Underlying causes were identified in 30 of the 35 patients (86%) and included coagulopathies, meningitis, cardioembolism, and hypertension. The most common coagulopathy was protein S deficiency. No cause was found in 5 patients (14%).


CONCLUSIONS
The results are similar to data from studies on young black African stroke patients who are HIV negative.
Mochan
Andre
A
Division of Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Modi
Mala
M
Modi
Girish
G
D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology*