title: Neurological disease in HIV-infected patients in the era of highly active antiretroviral treatment: a Brazilian experience.
abstract: To study characteristics of neurological disorders in HIV/AIDS patients and their relationship to highly active antiretroviral treatment, a cross-sectional study was conducted in an infectious disease public hospital in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, between February 1999 and March 2000. Of the 417 patients enrolled, neurological disease was observed in 194 (46.5%) and a new AIDS-defining neurological event developed in 23.7% of individuals. Toxoplasmosis (42.3%), cryptococcosis meningitis (12.9%) and tuberculosis (10.8%) were the most common causes of neurological complications. The majority (79.3%) of patients were on highly active antiretroviral treatment and these individuals using HAART showed higher CD4 cell counts (p = 0.014) and presented stable neurological disease (p = 0.0001), although no difference was found with respect to the profile of neurological complications. The neurological diseases continue to be a frequent complication of HIV/AIDS and infections are still its main causes in Brazil, even in the highly active antiretroviral treatment era.
authors.affiliation: Minas Gerais Hospital State Foundation, Hospital Eduardo de Menezes, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. jgfo@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Jacqueline Ferreira de
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Dirceu Bartolomeu
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Guilherme Correa
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Paulo Pereira
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Christo
authors.forename: Mark Drew Crosland
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Rodrigo Corrêa
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002494:Central Nervous System Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged