HIV associated myelopathies

Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .

HIV associated myelopathies. This starts in the mid to low thoracic spinal cord. Fully referenced neurology checklist.

HIV associated vacuolar myelopathy (HAM)

  • This starts in the mid to low thoracic spinal cord
  • It progresses rostrally with increasing severity
  • It presents with painless spastic paraparesis
  • It also manifests with sensory ataxia
  • There is associated neurogenic bladder
  • The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows spinal cord atrophy
  • The MRI may also show an intrinsic cord signal

HIV associated myelitis

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References

  1. McArthur JC, Brew BJ, Nath A. Neurological complications of HIV infection. Lancet Neurol 2005; 4:543-555.
  2. Tan SV, Guiloff RJ, Scaravilli F. AIDS-associated vacuolar myelopathy: a morphometric study. Brain 1995; 118:1247-1261.
  3. Chong J, Di Rocco A, Tagliati M, Danisi F, Simpson DM, Atlas SW. MR findings in AIDS-associated myelopathy. Am J Neuroradiol 1999; 20:1412-1416.
  4. Andrade P, Figueiredo C, Carvalho C, Santos L, Sarmento A. Transverse myelitis and acute HIV infection: a case report. BMC Infect Dis 2014; 14:149.
  5. Hamada Y, Watanabe K, Aoki T, Arai N, Honda M, Kikuchi Y, Oka S. Primary HIV infection with acute transverse myelitis. Intern Med 2011; 50:1615-1617.

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