[Encephalopathies in infection by human immunodeficiency virus].

Encephalitis occupies a large part in the neurological complications of HIV infection. It is frequent and in most cases of poor prognosis. Some cases of encephalitis are directly related to HIV while others are caused by an opportunistic infection. Among the former is the acute encephalitis coincident with seroconversion, which is exceptional and spontaneously regressive, and the subacute encephalitis better known as HIV encephalopathy which has a constantly pernicious course ending in subcortical dementia lethal within a few months. Some cases of opportunistic encephalitis are associated with a virus: a Papovavirus is responsible for progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy where mental deterioration is combined with focal symptoms, both resulting in death in less than 6 months. Cytomegalovirus is responsible for an encephalitis that is frequently found on pathological examination but is usually subclinical. Anecdotic cases of toxoplasmic encephalitis have been reported. Finally, emphasis should be placed on the frequency of encephalitis-associated pathologies with all possible combinations, the most common being HIV encephalitis with another encephalitis and/or focal ou multifocal infectious or tumoral processes.