Recurrent vacuolar myelopathy in HIV infection.
OBJECTIVE
Vacuolar myelopathy is the major cause of spinal cord disease in HIV-1 infection. However, the pathogenesis remains unclear. Diagnosis is mainly based on characteristic clinical symptoms in combination with characteristic MRI changes. Usually, it is a slowly progressive chronic disease affecting HIV-infected individuals with low CD4 T-cell counts.


METHODS
Here, we report an uncommon case of vacuolar myelopathy in an HIV-infected woman with recurrent clinical symptoms and MRI changes of vacuolar myelopathy and with a preserved CD4 T-cell count when symptoms occurred for the first time.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first case, to show that vacuolar myelopathy can have relapsing-remitting clinical symptoms and MRI changes.
Anneken
Kerstin
K
Department of Neurology, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany. kerstin_anneken@web.de
Fischera
Marthe
M
Evers
Stefan
S
Kloska
Stephan
S
Husstedt
Ingo-W
IW
D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012008:Recurrence; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*