J Korean Med Sci.  2015 Jun;30(6):694-699. 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.6.694.

Clinical Features of Seizures in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

• Kim HK
• Chin BS
• Shin HS

• KMID: 2160595
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.6.694

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.

Keyword

HIV; Seizures; Korea

MeSH Terms

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
Anticonvulsants

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