The American journal of medicine
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This study was designed to describe the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings and neurologic diagnoses observed in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults undergoing diagnostic lumbar puncture (LP) and to correlate the results of LP with indications and CD4 counts. ⋯ CSF abnormalities were common at all stages of disease. LP was diagnostic in 22% of cases, but fewer than half of the diagnoses were of treatable secondary complications. Patients with a CD4 count higher than 0.200 x 10(9) have a very low incidence of opportunistic complications. The relatively low yield of LP in patients with altered mental status suggests that other testing modalities should be used prior to LP.