The neuromyelitis optica presentation and the aquaporin-4 antibody in HIV-seropositive and seronegative patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Ahmed I BhigjeeAnandan A MoodleyIzanne RoosCait-Lynn WellsPratistadevi RamdialMonika EsserPublished in: Southern African journal of HIV medicine (2017)
This study confirms the presence of AQP-4-positive NMO in southern Africa in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients. The simultaneous or consecutive occurrence of optic neuritis and myelitis in an HIV-positive patient should alert the clinician to test for the AQP-4 antibody. It is important to recognise this clinical syndrome as specific therapy is available. We further postulate that HIV itself may act as a trigger for an autoimmune process.
Keyphrases
- hiv positive
- south africa
- antiretroviral therapy
- men who have sex with men
- end stage renal disease
- hiv testing
- human immunodeficiency virus
- hiv infected
- ejection fraction
- newly diagnosed
- chronic kidney disease
- hiv aids
- peritoneal dialysis
- multiple sclerosis
- hepatitis c virus
- risk assessment
- patient reported outcomes
- optical coherence tomography
- electronic health record
- cell therapy
- mesenchymal stem cells