The results are similar to data from studies on young black African stroke patients who are HIV negative.

HIV influences the non-traumatic myelopathy spectrum in regions with high HIV prevalence. Empiric treatment of HIV-myelopathy patients with anti-tuberculous medications where resources are severely limited has merit.

In developing countries, infections are the predominant cause of HFBL, the principal causes being infections that are endemic to the populations being studied. Empiric treatment based on limited investigations should be directed according to the nature of such infections. A modified algorithm is proposed.

No abstract

The authors studied new-onset seizures in 60 heterosexual black South African HIV-infected patients who had not used IV drugs. An intracranial space-occupying lesion was identified in 53% of patients, meningitis in 22%, and no additional cause in 25%. Of the patients with an identifiable cause, 64% had probable tuberculosis (tuberculoma or tuberculous meningitis). The majority of patients had late-stage HIV infection (CD4 counts <200/mm(3)).