Severe aseptic leucoencephalopathy as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in Caucasian and African patients

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) after HAART may become manifest in form of aseptic severe leucoencephalopathy. All HIV-1-positive patients in this case series had widespread laboratory tests and follow-up MRI in order to investigate the course and the underlying pathophysiology of IRIS-associated leucoencephalopathy. All patients were treated with corticosteroids, in spite of additional immunosuppression. Three patients were successfully treated with corticosteroids and survived up to now, one died. A neuropathological examination was performed showing massive aseptic intraparenchymal and perivascular invasion of cytotoxic CD8(+) cells. It is assumed that IRIS-associated leucoencephalopathy is based on other preconditions in Africans and Caucasians.