A 37-year-old woman with HIV infection (CD4: 5 cells/μl) presented with acute dysarthria
and right hemiparesis. A brain CT showed nodular hyperdense lesions; MRI depicted
cortico-subcortical hyperintense signals ([Figure 1]); MRI and CT angiography disclosed arterial stenosis suggesting vasculitis ([Figure 2]). The cerebrospinal fluid PCR confirmed cytomegalovirus infection. Highly-active
antiretroviral therapy was started, but there was worsening of the symptoms, and she
died one month later. Brain necropsy confirmed toxoplasmosis.
Figure 1 Axial brain CT scan without contrast shows calcification in the cerebellar hemispheres
(A). Axial T1-weighted brain MRI shows corresponding areas of nodular and irregular
enhancement by the gadolinium (B and C). Axial FLAIR brain MRI demonstrates several
areas of hyperintense signal in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum (D, E and F).
Figure 2 Brain MRI angiography shows segmental narrowing of the left middle cerebral artery
(arrowhead) with reduction of flow in the opercular segments (arrow) (A). Follow up
with brain CT scan angiography shows focal narrowing of the supraclinoid portion of
the left internal carotid artery (curved arrow) and reduction of the flow in the left
middle cerebral artery (straight arrow) (B).
CNS vasculitis in HIV patients may be caused by several infectious diseases[1], such as CMV, toxoplasmosis, HIV virus, and others[2]. In this report we describe a HIV-infected patient with cerebral vasculitis related
to co-infection.
