Movement disorders as presenting symptoms of AIDS

Opportunistic infections are frequently reported to induce movement disorders in late stages of HIV. We report a case of a 32-year-old woman who presented headache and fever that was resistant to antipyretic drugs and to common antibiotics. Hereafter her right limbs were affected by several hyperkinetic movement disorders (ballismus, chorea, dystonia, athetosis). Brain MRI showed a mass lesion involving left basal ganglia. Serological tests were positive for HIV and for Toxoplasma gondii. Clinical features, therapeutical approaches, prognostic factors and possible pathogenesis are discussed.A literature review of cases of movement disorders associated with AIDS is provided.