title: Hemiballistic movements in a newly HIV patient.
abstract: Infections of central nervous system (CNS) include a broad group of conditions and pose a particular challenge to physicians, especially in immunocompromised individuals. This case refers to a 26-year-old male patient with a history of smoked hashish and drug abuse admitted to the infectious disease department with hemiballismus of left hemibody and a positive HIV serologic test. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study showed lesions at lower left and right cerebellar hemisphere, one of them thalamus - mesencephalic suggesting an opportunistic infection or an HIV associated encephalopathy. Lumbar puncture, brain biopsy and successive neuroimaging were not conclusive for one disease and despite the use of directed therapy for cerebral toxoplasmosis, meningeal tuberculosis, anti-retrovirals and sedative medication, after over 6 weeks of hospitalization pallidotomy was performed. After 5 months of oral and surgical treatment the patient showed clinical, immunological and radiological recovery.
authors: Department of Infectious Disease, Coimbra's Hospital Center and University, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Magano
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Coimbra's Hospital Center and University, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Rita
authors: R
authors: Jorge
authors: Department of Infectious Disease, Coimbra's Hospital Center and University, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Margarida
authors: M
authors: Prata
authors: Department of Infectious Disease, Coimbra's Hospital Center and University, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: Maria Conceição
authors: MC
authors: Ventura
authors: Department of Infectious Disease, Coimbra's Hospital Center and University, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors: José Gabriel
authors: JG
authors: Saraiva da Cunha
keywords: HIV; Hemiballismus; Pallidotomy