[Acute necrotizing myelitis in an AIDS patient].
In the setting of HIV infection, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1-2 (HSV 1-2) can affect both the central and peripheral nervous systems. These agents can involve the spinal cord and produce a necrotizing transverse myelitis. This usually occurs in AIDS patients with severe immunodeficiency: CD4+ lymphocyte counts typically are less than 50 cell/microL. The clinical presentation, CSF and imaging studies can provide a high level of suspicion diagnosis. Prompt initiation of antiviral specific drugs is essential. We report a patient with an acute necrotizing myelitis (cauda equina syndrome) secondary to CMV and HSV infections.
Corti
Marcelo
M
Unidad 10, Laboratorio de Virología y Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital de Infecciosas Francisco J. Muñiz, Buenos Aires, Argentina. marcelocorti@ciudad.com.ar
Soto
Isabel
I
Villafañe
María F
MF
Bouzas
Belén
B
Duarte
Juan Manuel
JM
Yampolsky
Claudio
C
Schtirbu
Ricardo
R
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*