Keywords
Encephalitis
HIV
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Abstract
Objective: To synthesize the available evidence on the frequency, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, and outcomes of cytomegalovirus-associated encephalitis in patients with HIV/AIDS. Methods: An integrative review conducted in six stages, with searches in the NIH, PubMed, SciELO, and BVS databases. Peer-reviewed articles (2020–2025) in Portuguese, English, and Spanish were included, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Results: Of the 68 initial articles, five were included. The reported prevalence ranged from 2.4% to 3.5% among hospitalized patients with HIV and suspected central nervous system (CNS) infection, reaching up to 7.7% in subgroups with opportunistic neurological diseases. Mortality was high (40% to 90%). Diagnosis was based on the detection of CMV DNA in cerebrospinal fluid by PCR. Although rare in the ART era, CMV encephalitis remains relevant in cases of severe immunosuppression, with manifestations that mimic HIV-associated dementia. Coinfections complicate diagnosis. Final considerations: The condition has low prevalence but is severe in patients with advanced immunosuppression. The scarcity of studies, especially in low- and middle-income countries, highlights the need for further research.
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