Multiple sclerosis-like illness occurring with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Neurology. 1989 Mar;39(3):324-9. doi: 10.1212/wnl.39.3.324.

Abstract

We describe seven men with a neurologic disease clinically indistinguishable from multiple sclerosis occurring in association with seropositivity for the human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1). Histopathology of the CNS obtained in three patients (2 by brain biopsy, 1 at autopsy) was consistent with MS. The neurologic symptoms preceded the onset of clinically evident immunosuppression in all patients. In three men, HIV-1 seropositivity was demonstrated concomitantly or within 3 months of the onset of their neurologic disease. In the others, features of MS preceded the demonstration of HIV-1 seropositivity by 41 months, 59 months, 11 years, and 18 years, respectively. Despite the superimposition of varying degrees of cellular immunodeficiency associated with HIV-1 infection, six of these men continued to experience relapsing neurologic symptoms.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / complications*
  • Adult
  • Brain / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / etiology*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology
  • Nervous System Diseases / complications
  • Nervous System Diseases / pathology
  • Spinal Cord / pathology