Table 1

Common neurological complications of HIV-1 infection

  • Due to HIV

    • Distal sensory peripheral neuropathy (DSPN)

    • HIV dementia (HAD)

    • Vacuolar myelopathy (usually in association with HAD)

    • HIV polymyositis

  • Opportunistic infections

    • Toxoplasmosis

    • Cryptococcal meningitis

    • Tuberculosis—meningitis, abscesses, tuberculoma

    • Cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis, retinitis, lumbar polyradiculopathy, vasculitic peripheral neuropathy

    • Progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy (PML)

  • Tumours

    • Primary CNS lymphoma

    • Metastatic systemic lymphoma

  • Drug related complications

    • Peripheral neuropathy caused by ddI, ddC and d4T; isoniazid

    • Myopathy (zidovudine)