Epidural blood patch in the HIV-positive patient. Review of clinical experience. San Diego HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center

Anesthesiology. 1992 Jun;76(6):943-7. doi: 10.1097/00000542-199206000-00012.

Abstract

To characterize the natural history of autologous epidural blood patch (EBP) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive patients, records from an ongoing longitudinal study of the neuropsychological manifestations of HIV infection were retrospectively reviewed. Of 252 participants (218 HIV-seropositive, 34 HIV-seronegative) who underwent at least one diagnostic lumbar puncture, 9 (7 seropositive, 2 seronegative) required EBP for post-dural puncture headache. After EBP, 6 of the seropositive subjects underwent serial neuropsychological evaluations over periods ranging from 6 to 24 months; none of these six subjects had a decline in neurocognitive performance or other adverse neurologic or infectious sequelae. We were unable to identify morbidity attributable to EBP in the HIV-seropositive patient followed for as long as 2 yr.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood*
  • HIV Seropositivity*
  • Headache / etiology
  • Headache / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Injections, Epidural*
  • Male
  • Spinal Puncture / adverse effects*