Chronic Subdural Hematoma Associated with Thrombocytopenia in a Patient with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Cameroon.
Hematological abnormalities including thrombocytopenia are common in patients living with HIV infection. Patients with HIV infection related thrombocytopenia present generally with only minor bleeding problems. But cases of subdural hematoma are very rare. A 61-year-old female with a history of HIV infection of 9 years' duration presented with a 3-month history of generalized headache associated with visual blurring and anterograde amnesia. There was no history of trauma or fever. She was treated empirically for cerebral toxoplasmosis for 6 weeks without any improvement of the symptoms. One week prior to admission, she developed weakness of the left side of the body. Clinical examination revealed left-sided hemiparesis. Computed tomography scan of the brain showed a 25 mm chronic right frontoparietotemporal subdural hematoma compressing the lateral ventricle with midline shift. There was no appreciable cerebral atrophy. A complete blood count showed leucopenia and thrombocytopenia at 92,000 cells/mm3. Her CD4-positive cell count was 48 cells/mm3despite receiving combination antiretroviral therapy for 9 years. A complete blood count analysis suggestive of thrombocytopenia should raise suspicion of possibilities of noninfectious focal brain lesions like subdural hematoma amongst HIV infected patients presenting with nonspecific neurological symptoms. This will enable prompt diagnosis and allow early appropriate intervention.
Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1 and Buea Regional Hospital, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Clovis
0000-0002-2617-6712
C
Nkoke
Center for Population Studies and Health Promotion, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Engelbert Bain
EB
Luchuo
Buea Regional Hospital, Southwest Region, Cameroon.
Denis
D
Teuwafeu
Buea Regional Hospital, Southwest Region, Cameroon.
Ines
I
Nepetsoun
Buea Regional Hospital, Southwest Region, Cameroon.
Cyrille
C
Nkouonlack