Can Hiv Cause A Stroke?

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U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

Understanding HIV/AIDS Table of Contents

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Can AIDS cause a stroke?

I am now 40 years old. I had a pretty major stroke two years ago. I was pretty out of it, and never asked the doctor what caused it. Can an AIDS diagnoses (CD4 Count of 12) be the cause of it? Or was it more likely caused by something else I was...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

HIV itself as a cause of stroke would be unlikely. It is more likely that neurosyphilis played a role, as syphilis can affect blood vessels and could lead to stroke. Although you are on the young-ish side for stroke risk in general, smoking and meth... Read more »

STROKE FROM AIDS???

Can you have a CVA(Cerebro Vascular Acident) from Aids. My friend who has HIV went to the Doctor, and he was doiagnosed as having a CVA. Is it from Smoking, or HIV??? How prevalent is it in HIV patients?? ...

Response from Judith Feinberg, M.D.

University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine

Strokes can be caused by many things, the most common of which is probably uncontrolled high blood pressure. People with vascular disease are also at risk for strokes. CVAs are not directly caused by HIV, although some HIV+s have a clotting... Read more »

Neurosyphillis, Stroke, Brain Mass

My partner has had HIV since 2006 w/undetectable VL until a self prescribed drug holiday 8mo. In December was diagnosed with neurosyphilis & brain leison, the leison doubled in size durin the 14 days or IV penicillin(but then shrank a tiny bit...

Response from Mark Holodniy, M.D., F.A.C.P., C.I.C.

Stanford University, School of Medicine

The rapid growth of the lesion suggests an infectious cause. It sounds like the doctors are doing an adequate work-up with scans and tests. In addition to the mentioned infections, I assume that tuberculosis and fungal infections were also looked... Read more »

High red blood cell count; is this a set-up for a stroke?

You have helped me before so I have come back again. My HIV positive brother has a high red blood cell count and extremely high blood pressure. He saw a hemotologist today and the best info I could get from my brother is that they are going to...

Response from Bruce Dezube, M.D.

Harvard Medical School

Although many HIV patients have a tendancy to develop anemia (low blood count), it is indeed true that some develop too high of a red blood cell count. This condition goes under various names including erythrocytosis and polycythemia. His doctor... Read more »

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HIV and TIA's or mini strokes

Posted by gatorboy, 1 Reply

I am 50 y/r and have no heart or blood pressure problems and after living with aids for 17 years I had a TIA (mini stroke) previously this year. Does anyone know of any HIV medications that could have caused this? Read more »

AIDS/stroke

Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies

i just had a stroke,is it possibly AIDS related?

Read more »

AIDS- 3rd leading cause of death

Posted by Anonymous

AIDS to Be 3rd Leading Cause of Death

The Associated Press

By MARIA CHENG

November 27, 2006

You can't put all your eggs in the abstinence basket

Within the next 25 years, AIDS is set to join heart disease and stroke as the top three causes of death... Read more »

HIV Causes AIDS -- And Knowing It Could Save Your

Posted by Anonymous

HIV Causes AIDS -- And Knowing It Could Save Your Life
By San Francisco AIDS Foundation

While the global HIV/AIDS pandemic continues to rage, a small number of fringe groups have been aggressively promoting misinformation about AIDS. Some claim that... Read more »

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