FROM DEPRESSION TO HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS – A CASE REPORT

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is often preceded or accompanied by neuropsychiatric symptoms, including depression. This fact has been evaluated in most of the clinical studies to date as associated with HIV infection already diagnosed. Case report: We report a case of a 46-year-old woman patient with no prior diagnosed pathology, suffering from depressive disorder for roughly 6 months, with a progressive evolution under treatment. Blood tests showed a moderate normochromic normocytic anemic syndrome of unspecified origin. Given the fact that depressive syndrome has not improved under treatment, a cerebral computed tomography (CT) scan and a cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are decided, revealing an expansive cerebral process which in turn recommends performing stereotactic biopsy, but the family of the patient refuses the procedure. The patient is neurologically evaluated and after considering the cerebral MRI pattern and the presence of anemia, an HIV and syphilis detection test is decided, revealing a positive result for HIV infection. An antiretroviral therapy has been initiated, resulting in favorable clinical and imaging outcomes. Conclusions: Each patient and each case are individual and is to be approached as such. Depression in a progressive evolution under treatment requires imaging evaluation (cerebral CT scan, ideally cerebral MRI).