Progressive hemispheric atrophy in HIV: A Rasmussen's-like variant of CD8 encephalitis?

Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 2022 Jun;48(4):e12794. doi: 10.1111/nan.12794. Epub 2022 Feb 16.

Abstract

We report two cases of progressive lateralising encephalopathy in adult patients with treated HIV in the absence of opportunistic infection or vasculitis. One case was characterised by CD8 cortical infiltrates and was steroid responsive and may represent a variant of CD8 encephalitis. The other case presented with focal seizures and episodes of status epilepticus and pathology showed severe cortical atrophy with features reminiscent of the chronic phase of Rasmussen's encephalitis.

Keywords: CD8 encephalitis; HIV; Rasmussen's; hemispheric atrophy; seizures; viral escape.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Atrophy / pathology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Encephalitis* / complications
  • Encephalitis* / pathology
  • HIV Infections* / complications
  • HIV Infections* / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Seizures / pathology