Invasive aspergillosis in a HIV patient on prolonged steroid therapy

Abstract

Central Nervous System complications are the most dreaded complications in patients of HIV. CNS aspergillosis in HIV is a rare complication. The primary risk-factors for invasive aspergillosis are profound neutropenia and glucocorticoid use; risk increases with longer duration of these conditions. In our case report, the HIV patient was treated with Anti Tubercular Treatment and steroids for CNS tuberculosis previously. Use of steroids might have predisposed him for aspergillosis. Physicians should be aware that the CNS might be the only site of Aspergillus involvement and should include CNS aspergillosis in the differential diagnosis of HIV-infected patients presenting with focal neurologic signs and symptoms, especially, when the head Computed Tomography reveals hypodense lesions.