Electroencephalogram base rhythm in AIDS patients

Prado, G. Fernandes do; Silva, A. Baptista da; Lima, J.G. Camargo

doi:10.1590/S0004-282X1993000200003

Abstracts

We studied the EEG of 73 patients diagnosed with HIV infection, with or without secondary complications. Sixty-eight belonged to CDC (Center for Disease Control) group IV and 38 presented signs or symptoms of encephalic neurological impairment. Rhytms constituting base activity were alpha (65.75%), beta (13.70%), theta (12.33%), and delta (8.22%). The alpha rhythm presented two modes: slow (8 to 9 Hz) in 25/48 or 52.08% of the cases and not-slow (>9 to 13 Hz) in 23/48 or 47.92% of the cases. The alpha slow-mode has been observed in about 10 to 15% of the normal population, with the 8 Hz frequency being found in only 1% of the normal adult population, which suggests that in some manner HIV is implicated in the slowing-down of the EEG base rhythm in AIDS patients. The patients from CDC group IV with encephalic neurological involvement presented a base rhythm significantly lower than those with non-encephalic involvement or the absence of neurological impairment.

AIDS; EEG; HIV infection; background activity

Estudamos o EEG de 73 pacientes com diagnóstico de infecção pelo HIV, com ou sem complicações secundárias. Sessenta e oito deles pertenciam ao grupo IV do CDC (Center for Disease Control) e 38 apresentavam sinais ou sintomas de comprometimento encefálico. Os ritmos que constituiram a atividtade de base foram o alfa (65,75%), o beta (13,70%), teta (12,33%) e o delta (8,22%). O ritmo alfa apresentou duas modalidades: a lenta (8 a 9Hz) em 25/48 ou 52,08% dos casos e a não-lenta (>9 a 13Hz) em 23/48 ou 47,92% dos casos. A modalidade lenta do ritmo alfa é observada em cerca de 10 a 15% da população normal, sendo a frequência de 8Hz encontrada em apenas 1% da população adulta normal, o que sugere que o HIV de alguma maneira está implicado na lentificação do ritmo de base no EEG de pacientes aidéticos. Os pacientes do grupo IV do CDC com envolvimento neurológico encefálico apresentaram ritmo de base significantemente menor que aqueles com envolvimento neurológico não encefálico ou ausência de comprometimento neurológico.

AIDS (SIDA); EEG; infecção por HIV; ritmo de base

G. Fernandes do Prado^I; A. Baptista da Silva^II; J.G. Camargo Lima^III

^IPost Graduate Student in Neurology, Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM)

^IIAdjunct Professor of Neurology, Head of the EEG and Polysomnography Sector, EPM

^IIIFull Professor and Head of the Discipline of Neurology, EPM

SUMMARY

We studied the EEG of 73 patients diagnosed with HIV infection, with or without secondary complications. Sixty-eight belonged to CDC (Center for Disease Control) group IV and 38 presented signs or symptoms of encephalic neurological impairment. Rhytms constituting base activity were alpha (65.75%), beta (13.70%), theta (12.33%), and delta (8.22%). The alpha rhythm presented two modes: slow (8 to 9 Hz) in 25/48 or 52.08% of the cases and not-slow (>9 to 13 Hz) in 23/48 or 47.92% of the cases. The alpha slow-mode has been observed in about 10 to 15% of the normal population, with the 8 Hz frequency being found in only 1% of the normal adult population, which suggests that in some manner HIV is implicated in the slowing-down of the EEG base rhythm in AIDS patients. The patients from CDC group IV with encephalic neurological involvement presented a base rhythm significantly lower than those with non-encephalic involvement or the absence of neurological impairment.

Key words: AIDS, EEG, HIV infection, background activity.

RESUMO

Estudamos o EEG de 73 pacientes com diagnóstico de infecção pelo HIV, com ou sem complicações secundárias. Sessenta e oito deles pertenciam ao grupo IV do CDC (Center for Disease Control) e 38 apresentavam sinais ou sintomas de comprometimento encefálico. Os ritmos que constituiram a atividtade de base foram o alfa (65,75%), o beta (13,70%), teta (12,33%) e o delta (8,22%). O ritmo alfa apresentou duas modalidades: a lenta (8 a 9Hz) em 25/48 ou 52,08% dos casos e a não-lenta (>9 a 13Hz) em 23/48 ou 47,92% dos casos. A modalidade lenta do ritmo alfa é observada em cerca de 10 a 15% da população normal, sendo a frequência de 8Hz encontrada em apenas 1% da população adulta normal, o que sugere que o HIV de alguma maneira está implicado na lentificação do ritmo de base no EEG de pacientes aidéticos. Os pacientes do grupo IV do CDC com envolvimento neurológico encefálico apresentaram ritmo de base significantemente menor que aqueles com envolvimento neurológico não encefálico ou ausência de comprometimento neurológico.

Palavras-chave: AIDS (SIDA), EEG, infecção por HIV, ritmo de base.

Full text available only in PDF format.

Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

Dr. Gilmar Fernandes do Prado Rua Santa Flora 244 01549-040 São Paulo SP Brasil.

1. Anders KH, Guerra WF, Tomiyasu U, Verity MA, Vinters AV. The neuropathology of AIDS: UCLA experience and review. Am J Pathol 1986, 124:537-558.
2. Belman LA, Ultmann MH, Horoupian D, Novick B, Spiro AJ, Rubinstein A, Kurtzberg D, Conewesson B. Neurological complications in infants and children with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Ann Neurol 1985, 18:560-566.
3. CDC, Center for Disease Control. Pneumocystis pneumonia. MMWR 1981, 30:250-252.
4. CDC, Center for Disease Control. Classification system for human T-lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus infections. MMWR 1986, 35:334-339.
5. Enzensberger W, Fischer PA, Helm EB, Stille W. Value of electroencephalography in AIDS. Lancet 1985, 4:1047-1048.
6. Fernandes do Prado G, Silva AB., Acceturi CA. EEG Classification of AIDS. In XII International Congress of Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology. Abstracts. Rio de Janeiro, 1990, p 28.
7. Fernandes do Prado G. Estudo das alterações eletrencefalográficas em pacientes aidéticos com ou sem complicações secundárias. Tese de Mestrado, Escola Paulista de Medicina São Paulo, 1991.
8. Fischer PA, Enzensberger W. Neurological complications in AIDS. J Neurol 1987, 234: 269-279.
9. Gabuzda DH, Levy SR, Chappa KH. Electroencephalography in AIDS and AIDs-related complex. Clin Electroenceph 1988, 19:1-6.
10. Gray F, Gherardi R, Poirier J. Les lésions du système nerveux au cours du SIDA. Arch anat cytol path 1986, 34:268-278.
11. Levy RM, Bredesen DF, Rosenblun ML. Neurological manifestations of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) : experience at UC'SF and review of the literature. J Neurosurg 1985, 62:475-495.
12. Minoli L, Nappi G. EEG findings and cognitive performance in 82 HIV-infected patients. Ve Conférence Internationale sur le SIDA (Le defi scientifique et social. Abrégés. Montreal, 1989, p 462.
13. Navia BA, Jordan BD, Price RW. The AIDS dementia complex: I. Clinical features. Ann Neurol 1986, 19:525-535.
14. Norcross-Nechay K, Borucki MJ, Borucki SJ, Pollard RB. EEG background slowing appears in HIV-infected patients in the absence of metabolic derangements or other cerebral involvement. Ve Conférence Internationale sur le SIDA (Le defi scientifique et social. Abrégés. Montreal, 1989, p 461.
15. Parisi A, Di Perri G, Stosselli M, Minoli L. Testing for neurological involvement in HIV infection. Lancet 1989, 2:1531-1532.
16. Price RW, Brew B, Sidtis J, Roseblum M, Scheck AC, Cleary P. The brain in AIDS: central nervous system HIV-1 infection and AIDS dementia complex. Science 1988, 239: 586-591.
17. Sharbrough FW. Nonspecific abnormal EEG patterns. In Niedermeyer EL, Lopes da Silva F (eds): Electroencephalography (basic principles, clinical applications and related fields). Ed 8. Baltimore: Urban & Schwarzenberg 1987, p 163-181.
18. Schnurbus R, Henkes H, Scheuler W, Haay C, Au FV, Bienzle U, Friedrich-Jaanicke B, Hoffmann HG, Kubicki ST. EEG findings with the HIV infection. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 1987, 89:94.
19. Tinuper P, De Carolis P, Galeotti M, Baldrati A, Sacquegna TL, Gritti FM. Electroencephalography and HIV infection. Lancet 1989, 1:554.

Electroencephalogram base rhythm in AIDS patients

Ritmo de base no eletrencefalograma de pacientes aidéticos

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
19 Jan 2011
Date of issue
June 1993

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] 1. Anders KH, Guerra WF, Tomiyasu U, Verity MA, Vinters AV. The neuropathology of AIDS: UCLA experience and review. Am J Pathol 1986, 124:537-558.

[2] 2. Belman LA, Ultmann MH, Horoupian D, Novick B, Spiro AJ, Rubinstein A, Kurtzberg D, Conewesson B. Neurological complications in infants and children with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Ann Neurol 1985, 18:560-566.

[3] 3. CDC, Center for Disease Control. Pneumocystis pneumonia. MMWR 1981, 30:250-252.

[4] 4. CDC, Center for Disease Control. Classification system for human T-lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy-associated virus infections. MMWR 1986, 35:334-339.

[5] 5. Enzensberger W, Fischer PA, Helm EB, Stille W. Value of electroencephalography in AIDS. Lancet 1985, 4:1047-1048.

[6] 6. Fernandes do Prado G, Silva AB., Acceturi CA. EEG Classification of AIDS. In XII International Congress of Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology. Abstracts. Rio de Janeiro, 1990, p 28.

[7] 7. Fernandes do Prado G. Estudo das alterações eletrencefalográficas em pacientes aidéticos com ou sem complicações secundárias. Tese de Mestrado, Escola Paulista de Medicina São Paulo, 1991.

[8] 8. Fischer PA, Enzensberger W. Neurological complications in AIDS. J Neurol 1987, 234: 269-279.

[9] 9. Gabuzda DH, Levy SR, Chappa KH. Electroencephalography in AIDS and AIDs-related complex. Clin Electroenceph 1988, 19:1-6.

[10] 10. Gray F, Gherardi R, Poirier J. Les lésions du système nerveux au cours du SIDA. Arch anat cytol path 1986, 34:268-278.

[11] 11. Levy RM, Bredesen DF, Rosenblun ML. Neurological manifestations of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) : experience at UC'SF and review of the literature. J Neurosurg 1985, 62:475-495.

[12] 12. Minoli L, Nappi G. EEG findings and cognitive performance in 82 HIV-infected patients. Ve Conférence Internationale sur le SIDA (Le defi scientifique et social. Abrégés. Montreal, 1989, p 462.

[13] 13. Navia BA, Jordan BD, Price RW. The AIDS dementia complex: I. Clinical features. Ann Neurol 1986, 19:525-535.

[14] 14. Norcross-Nechay K, Borucki MJ, Borucki SJ, Pollard RB. EEG background slowing appears in HIV-infected patients in the absence of metabolic derangements or other cerebral involvement. Ve Conférence Internationale sur le SIDA (Le defi scientifique et social. Abrégés. Montreal, 1989, p 461.

[15] 15. Parisi A, Di Perri G, Stosselli M, Minoli L. Testing for neurological involvement in HIV infection. Lancet 1989, 2:1531-1532.

[16] 16. Price RW, Brew B, Sidtis J, Roseblum M, Scheck AC, Cleary P. The brain in AIDS: central nervous system HIV-1 infection and AIDS dementia complex. Science 1988, 239: 586-591.

[17] 17. Sharbrough FW. Nonspecific abnormal EEG patterns. In Niedermeyer EL, Lopes da Silva F (eds): Electroencephalography (basic principles, clinical applications and related fields). Ed 8. Baltimore: Urban & Schwarzenberg 1987, p 163-181.

[18] 18. Schnurbus R, Henkes H, Scheuler W, Haay C, Au FV, Bienzle U, Friedrich-Jaanicke B, Hoffmann HG, Kubicki ST. EEG findings with the HIV infection. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 1987, 89:94.

[19] 19. Tinuper P, De Carolis P, Galeotti M, Baldrati A, Sacquegna TL, Gritti FM. Electroencephalography and HIV infection. Lancet 1989, 1:554.