Brain Inflammation and Neuronal Destruction Despite Successful ART

A large cohort study confirms persistent clinical and radiologic abnormalities in the central nervous system despite successful antiretroviral therapy.

Although successful combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) preserves physical health, it may not completely avert HIV-related neurological damage. In a recent cohort study, researchers used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to quantitate various cerebral metabolites and identify abnormalities among 240 HIV-positive individuals on stable ART and 28 HIV-negative controls.

The HIV-positive individuals were almost all men. Median duration of known HIV infection was 12 years, median nadir CD4 count was 34 cells/mm³, and median CD4 count on treatment was 309 cells/mm³. Seventy-five percent had an undetectable plasma viral load, and, among those with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) results available, 71% had an undetectable CSF viral load. On a st…

Reviewing Author

Abigail Zuger, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Abigail Zuger, MD

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Brain Inflammation and Neuronal Destruction Despite Successful ART

Topics

Reviewing Author