Cerebral toxoplasmosis in HIV-infected patients: a retrospective cohort study between 2015 and 2020, in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire).

Objective: To describe the profile of HIV patients treated for cerebral toxoplasmosis in a university hospital. Methods: A retrospective single-centre cohort study was carried out from 2015 to 2020. The study was carried out at Cocody Teaching Hospital's neurology department in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Results: A total of 75 patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis were studied. The male-to-female sex ratio was 0.56, and the mean age was 42.33 ± 10.907 years. Fifty-six percent (56%) of patients were single, while 41.3% were in a relationship. About 54.7% of these patients had known serological status, and 34.7% had received antiretroviral treatment. The average duration of inpatient hospitalisation was 12.92 ± 7.647 days. The most common clinical signs were limb weakness (31.9%) and altered consciousness (29.6%), with symptom onset occurring gradually in 86.7%. Suppurative encephalitis accounted for 62.7%. Cotrimoxazole (CTX) was the primary treatment (96%). The mortality rate was estimated at 4%. Conclusion: Cerebral toxoplasmosis is still significant in HIV/AIDS infection, and the absence or non-compliance with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) remains an essential determinant in its incidence.