HIV related dementia.

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1994. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

HIV related dementia.

Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1993 Oct 28-30;5:23 (abstract no. FPI-4). Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM5/94348941
Strain J

Abstract: This paper will address the prevalence, the etiology, and the treatment of the organic mental disorders that accompany HIV infection, with special attention to the dementias. Late-stage HIV infection is frequently associated with a syndrome of progressive dementia, presumably etiologically related to the virus activity in the brain, although it may occur at any stage of the disease, even as the presenting symptom. Navia and Price described this clinical stage as AIDS dementia complex (ADC). Macrophages, microglia and neuronal cells have been found to be affected by the virus in autopsy specimens. Studies describe that the prevalence of HIV dementia among AIDS patients ranges from 50% to 70%. Early diagnosis is complicated by the relative nonspecificity of the most common symptoms: short term memory dysfunction, mild confusion, psychomotor slowing, and headache, which can be confused with depression or reactions to the illness. Advanced dementia in HIV patients is characterised by severe memory loss, incoordination, tremor, hyper-reflexion, disturbances of gait, paranoid states, and seizures. Chemotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic management of these organic states will be discussed.

Keywords: AIDS Dementia Complex/*DIAGNOSIS/PATHOLOGY/THERAPY Brain/PATHOLOGY Combined Modality Therapy Human Macrophages/PATHOLOGY Microglia/PATHOLOGY Neurologic Examination Neurons/PATHOLOGY Neuropsychological Tests ABSTRACT
941230
M94C4286

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