Progressive diffuse leukoencephalopathy in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1986. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Progressive diffuse leukoencephalopathy in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Acta Neuropathol (Berl). 1985;68(4):333-9. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/86126042
Kleihues P; Lang W; Burger PC; Budka H; Vogt M; Maurer R; Luthy R; Siegenthaler W

Abstract: Two adult patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) presented with psycho-organic symptoms produced by an extensive cerebral and cerebellar leukoencephalopathy. Diffuse loss of myelin and axons with reactive astrocytosis and distinctive multinucleated giant cells were prominent in the deep white matter, but less so in the subcortical white matter and in compact myelinated pathways. Bilateral involvement of the centrum semiovale produced distal Wallerian degeneration of the descending pyramidal tracts, which in one patient correlated with progressive paraparesis and bladder dysfunction. Although there were morphological indications of cytomegalovirus infection and immunohistochemical evidence of papovavirus antigens, the neuropathology did not resemble that usually associated with infection by these opportunistic agents. The possibility is entertained that the progressive diffuse leukoencephalopathy (PDL) in these patients was directly related to infection with human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-III/LAV), the etiologic agent of AIDS.
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*COMPLICATIONS/PATHOLOGY Adult Brain/*PATHOLOGY Brain Diseases/*COMPLICATIONS/ETIOLOGY/PATHOLOGY Case Report Demyelinating Diseases/*COMPLICATIONS/ETIOLOGY/PATHOLOGY Female Human Male Middle Age Organic Mental Disorders/*COMPLICATIONS/PATHOLOGY JOURNAL ARTICLE

KWDacquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome/KWDcomplications/pathologyadultbrain/KWDpathologybraindiseases/KWDcomplications/etiology/pathologycasereportdemyelinatingdiseases/KWDcomplications/etiology/pathologyfemalehumanmalemiddleageorganicmentaldisorders/KWDcomplications/pathologyjournalarticle
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M8650200

Copyright © 1986 - National Library of Medicine. Reproduced under license with the National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD.

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