Cerebrospinal fluid HIV infection and pleocytosis: relation to systemic infection and antiretroviral treatment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Central nervous system (CNS) exposure to HIV is a universal facet of systemic infection. Because of its proximity to and shared barriers with the brain, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) provides a useful window into and model of human CNS HIV infection.

Methods

Prospective study of the relationships of CSF to plasma HIV RNA, and the effects of: 1) progression of systemic infection, 2) CSF white blood cell (WBC) count, 3) antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 4) neurological performance. One hundred HIV-infected subjects were cross-sectionally studied, and 28 were followed longitudinally after initiating or changing ART.

Results

In cross-sectional analysis, HIV RNA levels were lower in CSF than plasma (median difference 1.30 log10 copies/mL). CSF HIV viral loads (VLs)

SUBMITTER: Spudich SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1299327 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature