MYELOPATHY AS A PRESENTING SIGN OF ACQUIRED IMMUNODEFICIENCY SYNDROME

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with a large variety of neurologic manifestations in adults and children. Diffuse encephalopathy seems to be the most common neurologic problem in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, resulting in dementia in adults and developmental delay in children. HIV has also been associated with peripheral nervous system abnormalities and with a myelopathy. Most neurologic manifestations of AIDS, including the myelopathy, appear fairly late in the course of the disease. We present a case of pediatric AIDS presenting as a progressive myelopathy.