title: Parkinsonism in HIV infected patients during antiretroviral therapy - data from a Brazilian tertiary hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Advances in the treatment of HIV infection in the last decades have increased life expectancy of these patients and raise the question of what kind of effect chronic infection and its treatment might exert on the behavior of age-related conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective analysis of patients' records to assess the frequency of the association between HIV infection and parkinsonian symptoms in our hospital population. Among 249 records we identified four individuals with reported parkinsonian symptoms initiated after HIV diagnosis. Three of them had no other identifiable cause of secondary parkinsonism. All had symptom onset before the age of 60. Based on this study sample one could estimate an incidence rate of nearly 101 per 100.000 person/year, which is similar to the risk of Parkinson's disease in the general population above 70 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that HIV infected individuals might be at a higher risk for developing parkinsonism as a manifestation of early neurodegeneration. Prospective and larger studies are needed to address this particular association and its characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, Serviço de Neurologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: luisdehner@ig.com.br.
authors.forename: Luis Filipe
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Dehner
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, Serviço de Neurologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spitz
authors.affiliation: Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, Serviço de Neurologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Santos
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pereira
mesh_terms: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007980:Levodopa / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000978:Antiparkinson Agents; D007980:Levodopa
keywords: Antiretroviral therapy; HIV; Parkinsonism