Management of Convulsions in HIV Positive Patients

It is estimated that at least 10 percent of HIV patients experience seizures. HIV positive patients are prone for convulsions as part of neurological complications of the disease or they may be having associated epilepsy. It can also be a complication of metabolic abnormalities very commonly seen in HIV positive patients. It can be the presenting symptom in a HIV positive patient. Intracranial mass lesions and cerebral HIV infection seems to be the most likely cause of the seizures. The main concern in the management of convulsions in HIV positive patients is that there is lot of interaction between Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART) and anticonvulsants. The treating physician should know about these interactions so that suitable modification can be made in the anticonvulsant regimen and thereby preventHIV viral resistance.