AIDS dementia complex with generalized myoclonus

✍ Scribed by John Maher; Rshujeel Choudhri; William Halliday; Christopher Power; Dr. Avindra Nath

• Book ID: 102948649
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 646 KB
• Volume: 12
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0885-3185
• DOI: 10.1002/mds.870120418

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Focal and segmental, but not generalized, myoclonus have been described with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We describe three patients with generalized myoclonus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) dementia complex. In each, myoclonus persisted until death, invariably after a course of a few months. In two patients, myoclonus was elicited by sudden auditory stimuli and resembled a startle response. This form of myoclonus may be subcortical in origin. We suggest that the AIDS dementia complex be included among the causes of myoclonic dementia.