Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Stroke Events: A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis

Stroke is a very disabling state that affects a considerable number of people around theworld and it has been associated with human immunodeficiency (HIV) infection.However, there is no comprehensive review article in the literature that wellinvestigates this critical topic. So, we performed this systematic review using Pubmedsearch. From 655 studies found at the initial search using broad Mesh terms and afterexclusion studies of unrelated topics or out of criteria, 39 studies have been left andreviewed. During over 1.2 million person-years of follow up, a broad spectrum ofincidence rate of stroke events has been reported by different authors from 0.73/1000to 5.27/1000 person years of follow up in different cohort studies. About theanatomical regions of the brain which are complicated by HIV infection, circle ofWillis and basal structures including basal ganglia and thalamus seem to be moreaffected. The range of risk factors which have been associated with stroke events inHIV infected patients is too much wide and includes controversy: younger age, gender,hemorrhagic (vs. ischemic) stroke, antiretroviral therapy are the major factors withcontroversial factors associated with higher or lower stroke events in HIV infectedindividuals.on the other hand there were factors constantly reported as risk factors ofhigher stroke events in HIV positive patients which included CD4 cell counts, havingAIDS, diabetes, being smoker, and not having arterial hypertension. Future controlledstudies with large study populations can better clarify these risk factors.

Keywords:

Human , Immunodeficiency , Virus , Stroke , Events