Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a double-stranded DNA virus in the herpes virus family that can cause disseminated or localized end-organ disease in HIV-infected patients with advanced immunosuppression. CMV encephalitis can present in patients with undiagnosed HIV infection.[1]
In patients with HIV, CMV encephalitis is one of the opportunistic infections that can be seen in late stages of disease.[2] Neurologic manifestations of CMV infection include encephalitis, ventriculitis, myelitis, retinitis, radiculoganglionitis, and peripheral neuropathies. These infections usually occur in patients with severe immunodeficiency: CD4+ lymphocyte counts typically are lower than 50/µL. Rarely, CMV encephalitis has been reported in patients with CD4+ lymphocyte counts greater than 50/µL.[1]
Other risk factors for CMV encephalitis include prior history of opportunistic infections, high levels of plasma HIV RNA (> 100,000 copies/mL), and high levels of CMV as measured by polymearase chain reaction (PCR).[3] Most infections occur in the setting of prior CMV disease (seropositive), reactiviation of latent CMV virus, or infection with a novel strain.[4]
Prior to the development of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), 2% of HIV-infected patients with CD4+ counts less than 50/µL developed CMV neurologic disease. The incidence has decreased since HAART became available. CMV infection of the CNS is recognized at autopsy in 18–28% of patients with AIDS. Histologic findings include ventriculoencephalitis, microglial nodules, focal parenchymal necrosis, isolated cytomegalic cells, and nuclear inclusions.
CMV neurologic disease is diagnosed on the basis of a compatible clinical syndrome and the presence of CMV in CSF or brain tissue, most often evaluated with PCR.[4] CSF analysis can help identify the correct diagnosis and rule out other potential diagnoses. Blood tests to detect CMV by antigen detection, culture, or PCR are not recommended for diagnosis of CMV end-organ disease because of their poor positive predictive value in people with advanced AIDS.[4]
Prompt initiation of antiviral drugs is essential. If left untreated, HIV-associated CMV encephalitis typically progresses to death in days to weeks. Death may result from other complications of advanced AIDS rather than the neurologic condition.
Encephalitis and meningitis have different but overlapping clinical features. Patients with meningitis may be lethargic or distracted by headache, but cerebral function usually remains normal. Patients with encephalitis commonly present with altered mental status, motor or sensory deficits, altered behavior, personality changes, and speech or movement disorders.
For more information, see the Medscape Reference topics HIV Disease, Encephalitis, Cytomegalovirus, and Viral Encephalitis.
HIV-associated cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis can present in different ways, including the following:
CMV encephalitis may occur in conjunction with CMV-associated colitis, esophagitis, retinitis, myelitis, radiculoganglionitis, neuropathy, or adrenal insufficiency, often in patients already receiving ganciclovir. A strong association between CMV retinitis and encephalitis is apparent. In an autopsy series of 47 patients with AIDS, 75% of those with CMV retinitis involving the peripapillary area also had encephalitis.[5]
Findings on physical examination may include the following:
The differential diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis includes the following:
Metabolic encephalopathies should also be considered.
CSF analysis can help identify the correct diagnosis and rule out other potential diagnoses. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) PCR in the CSF is the recommended method to diagnose and confirm CMV with neurologic involvement. CSF analysis will typically show low glucose, elevated protein, and can have either a neutrophilic or mononuclear pleocytosis.[6]
Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can aid in the diagnosis and can exclude other diagnostic considerations (eg, absence of parenchymal enhancement, evidence of increased intracranial pressure [ICP]). MRI is preferred to CT in the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis.
MRI findings are typically non-specific and demonstrate T2 FLAIR hyperintensities in the periventricular white matter. The presence of enhancement suggests ventriculitis, which can occur in CMV encephalitis.
Mass lesions due to CMV have been reported but are rare. T2-weighted MRI may show diffuse white matter hyperintensity similar to that seen in HIV encephalopathy and other HIV-associated central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Gadolinium contrast MRI may reveal meningeal and ependymal enhancement, as well as ring enhancing lesions.
Prompt initiation of antiviral drugs is essential for treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) encephalitis.[4] These agents inhibit viral replication by competing with deoxyguanosine triphosphate for viral DNA polymerase, inhibiting DNA synthesis. Medical support is required in cooperation with the primary care physician and an infectious diseases specialist.
Because the clinical presentation, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) studies, and imaging studies may not provide a definitive diagnosis, a high level of suspicion is necessary to avoid a delay in proper therapy. Delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to death.
Ganciclovir and foscarnet are indicated for CMV infections in the induction phase. The two agents may be used in combination, although this combination results in substantial rates of adverse effects.[7, 4] Long-term intravenous (IV) maintenance therapy may be indicated for patients who have a clinical response.
Preferred therapies:[4]
Patients not responding to ganciclovir should be evaluated for ganciclovir resistance, a common cause of treatment failure. Most of these patients remain sensitive to foscarnet. Low-level resistance to ganciclovir is associated with mutations in the CMV UL97 (phosphotransferase) gene, and high-level resistance is associated with mutations in both the CMV UL97 and UL54 (DNA polymerase) genes. Resistance to foscarnet is associated with mutations in the CMV UL54 gene. High-level resistance to ganciclovir often is occasionally associated with cross-resistance to foscarnet. Although early CMV disease progression typically is not a result of drug resistance, late CMV reactivation may be.[4]
Oral valganciclovir has very good bioavailability and can be used for long-term prophylaxis. The goal of pharmacotherapy is to shorten the clinical course and prevent or decrease complications, latency, recurrences, transmission, and established latency. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is effective in reconstituting the immune system and preventing CMV reactivation.[8] Current guidelines recommend discontinuation of secondary prophylaxis in HAART recipients with a sustained (> 6 mo) increase in CD4+ T cells to greater than 100–150 cells/µL.[4]
Prior to the introduction of potent antiretroviral therapy (ART), the median survival of patients with cytomegalovirus (CMV) neurologic disease was less than three months.[9] However, ART has altered the natural history of CMV neurologic disease, and long-term survival has been reported in some patients, even if patients initiate ART after being diagnosed with CMV disease. With antiviral therapy, more than 50% of patients stabilize or improve.
Overall, the prognosis is usually poor even with immune reconstitution and antivirals against CMV. This disappointing expected outcome is in part determined by the stage of HIV infection and the overall health of the patient.[10]