Hypothermia – an unusual initial presentation of human immunodeficiency virus infection

Abstract

We report an unusual case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection initially presenting with hypothermia and bradycardia associated with an HIV encephalitis. Searches reveal only five reported cases of spontaneous episodic hypothermia in the context of HIV infection. In our case, magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of a persistent cavum septum pellucidum (CSP), an anatomical and functional neuro-developmental abnormality, as well as changes compatible with an HIV encephalitis. Episodic hypothermia can occur in association with agenesis of the corpus callosum, known as Shapiro’s syndrome, and the presence of a persistent CSP in our case suggests it may have contributed to the clinical presentation.