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Journal article

Seizures in children with HIV infection in South Africa: a retrospective case control study

Abstract:

Purpose

Data relating to the role that Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) contributes towards seizures in HIV-infected children is limited. The management of seizures in this group is complex due to potential interactions between antiseizure medication and antiretroviral therapies. This study explores the seizure semiology and course of a population of affected children based on questions raised from a previous epidemiological study.

Methods

A retrospective case-control study of all patients presenting to an HIV neurology clinic between 2008–2015 was conducted. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors for seizure occurrence in HIV-infected children, as well as factors associated with seizure control.

Results

Of 227 HIV-infected children (median 82 months, interquartile range 41–109), 52 (23%) reported a past or present history of seizures. Prior bacterial meningitis (p =  0.03, OR 12.5, 95% CI 1.2–136.1), cerebrovascular accident (CVA, p =  0. 005, OR 8.1, 95% CI 1.9–34.9) and or tuberculous meningitis (TBM, p =  0.0004) was associated with an increased risk of seizures in HIV-infected children. Generalised tonic-clonic seizures were the predominant seizure type (64%) with the majority caused by an infectious aetiology (62%). Thirty-two (62%) of these patients had epilepsy in-line with the latest diagnostic criteria. HIV-infected children with epilepsy who were treated with efavirenz were more likely to have poor seizure control (OR 23.1 95% CI 3.4–159.6, p =  0.0001).

Conclusions

This study provides new data highlighting the complex clinical presentation and management challenges of HIV-infected children with seizures.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Files:
Publisher copy:
10.1016/j.seizure.2019.01.023

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Clinical Neurosciences
Oxford college:
Balliol College
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0003-3107-7871


Publisher:
Elsevier
Journal:
Seizure More from this journal
Volume:
65
Pages:
159-165
Publication date:
2019-01-28
Acceptance date:
2019-01-19
DOI:
ISSN:
1059-1311
Pmid:
30721872


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:972193
UUID:
uuid:91fb9a07-089a-4609-b636-c7dd02077db1
Local pid:
pubs:972193
Source identifiers:
972193
Deposit date:
2019-06-03

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