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Cerebrovascular lesions in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

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Summary

Cerebrovascular lesions were seen in 28 of 83 cases (34%) of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Cerebral hemorrhage was noted in 4 cases, cerebral infarct in 23 cases and both in 1 case. Cerebral hemorrhage was in various locations such as intraparenchymal, subarachnoid space, subdural space and epidural space. Large, clinically evident hemorrhage was noted in 2 of 5 cases and bleeding tendency was noted in 2 cases. Most of the 24 cases with cerebral infarcts were not clinically evident; they were multiple, small and mainly involved the striatum, cerebral cortex and brain stem. Mural thickening of occasional small blood vessels was seen in 12 of the cases (50%) with infarcts. Other changes in blood vessels included vasculitis in one cases and perivascular lymphocytic infiltration in another. In addition to thrombo-embolism and systemic ischemia/anoxia, these blood vessel changes may have a role in the development of cerebral infarcts in AIDS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bluestone Laboratory Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th Street, 10467, Bronx, NY, USA

    H. Mizusawa, A. Hirano, J. F. Llena & M. Shintaku

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  1. H. Mizusawa
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  2. A. Hirano
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  3. J. F. Llena
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  4. M. Shintaku
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Mizusawa, H., Hirano, A., Llena, J.F. et al. Cerebrovascular lesions in acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Acta Neuropathol 76, 451–457 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686383

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00686383

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