title: Clinical features of seizures in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.
abstract: Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have a higher burden of seizures, but few studies have examined seizures in HIV-infected individuals in Korea. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of seizures in patients with HIV infection. Among a total of 1,141 patients, 34 (3%) had seizures or epilepsy; 4 of these individuals had epilepsy before HIV infection, and the others showed new-onset seizures. Most patients exhibited moderate (200 to 500, n = 13) or low (below 200, n = 16) CD4 counts. The most common seizure etiology was progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (n = 14), followed by other HIV-associated central nervous system (CNS) complications (n = 6). Imaging studies revealed brain lesions in 21 patients. A total of 9 patients experienced only one seizure during the follow-up period, and 25 patients experienced multiple seizures or status epilepticus (n = 2). Multiple seizures were more common in patients with brain etiologies (P = 0.019) or epileptiform discharges on EEG (P = 0.032). Most seizures were controlled without anticonvulsants (n = 12) or with a single anticonvulsant (n = 12). Among patients with HIV infection, seizures are significantly more prevalent than in the general population. Most seizures, with the exception of status epilepticus, have a benign clinical course and few complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Kyung
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2087-4851
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Bum Sik
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3021-1434
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyoung-Shik
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6504-3413
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants
keywords: HIV; Korea; Seizures