title: Acute HIV-1 infection presenting with fulminant encephalopathy.
abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 directly affects the nervous system, causes distinct neurological symptoms, and indirectly results in opportunistic infections, which include herpes virus simplex (HSV)-1, HSV-2, varicella zoster virus, and cytomegalovirus encephalitis caused by immunodeficiency. Early HIV-1 invasion of the central nervous system is also possible, and acute encephalopathy is a potentially lethal complication. We encountered a case of fulminant encephalopathy as a primary presentation of acute HIV-1 infection, in which highly active antiretroviral treatment resulted in a full clinical recovery. This case highlights the importance of considering acute HIV-1 infection in the differential diagnosis of reversible encephalopathy.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Neurology, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Neurology, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jun-Sang
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sunwoo
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Se Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000821:virology*; D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000821:virology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Human immunodeficiency virus; encephalopathy; highly active antiretroviral treatment; infection