Clinical Features of Seizures in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.
10.3346/jkms.2015.30.6.694
- Author:
Hyun Kyung KIM
1
;
Bum Sik CHIN
;
Hyoung Shik SHIN
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
HIV;
Seizures;
Korea
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged;
Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use;
Causality;
Comorbidity;
Electroencephalography/*statistics & numerical data;
Female;
HIV Infections/diagnosis/*epidemiology;
Humans;
Incidence;
Longitudinal Studies;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Republic of Korea/epidemiology;
Risk Factors;
Seizures/*diagnosis/*epidemiology/prevention & control;
Treatment Outcome
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2015;30(6):694-699
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have a higher burden of seizures, but few studies have examined seizures in HIV-infected individuals in Korea. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of seizures in patients with HIV infection. Among a total of 1,141 patients, 34 (3%) had seizures or epilepsy; 4 of these individuals had epilepsy before HIV infection, and the others showed new-onset seizures. Most patients exhibited moderate (200 to 500, n = 13) or low (below 200, n = 16) CD4 counts. The most common seizure etiology was progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (n = 14), followed by other HIV-associated central nervous system (CNS) complications (n = 6). Imaging studies revealed brain lesions in 21 patients. A total of 9 patients experienced only one seizure during the follow-up period, and 25 patients experienced multiple seizures or status epilepticus (n = 2). Multiple seizures were more common in patients with brain etiologies (P = 0.019) or epileptiform discharges on EEG (P = 0.032). Most seizures were controlled without anticonvulsants (n = 12) or with a single anticonvulsant (n = 12). Among patients with HIV infection, seizures are significantly more prevalent than in the general population. Most seizures, with the exception of status epilepticus, have a benign clinical course and few complications.
