title: Seizures in HIV/AIDS: a southern African perspective.
abstract: South Africa, with a population of 44.8 million, has over 5 million human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. Over 70% of HIV-infected patients will present with clinically relevant neurologic disease at some stage during the course of their disease. New onset seizures occur in 3-11% of these patients. The mechanism of seizure production in HIV-positive patients includes incidental association, HIV itself, opportunistic infections (OIs), neoplasia, cerebrovascular disease, drug toxicity, and metabolic derangements. In developing countries, OIs constitute the largest group presenting with seizures. Seizure management in HIV-positive patients presents special problems, especially with respect to drug-disease and drug-drug interactions. The older antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are protein-bound and largely depend on the cytochrome p450 system for their metabolism. The newer AEDs may be safer in patients on antiretroviral drugs. However, they are expensive, an important consideration in developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Mayville, South Africa. ahmedbhi@ialch.co.za
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Bhigjee
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000353:Africa, Southern; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003906:Developing Countries; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004347:Drug Interactions; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000927:Anticonvulsants