Neurological symptoms during primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection correlate with high levels of HIV RNA in cerebrospinal fluid. NLM AIDSLINE Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

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Neurological symptoms during primary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection correlate with high levels of HIV RNA in cerebrospinal fluid.

Clin Infect Dis. 2000 Jun;30(6):962-5. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE MED/20340610
Tambussi G; Gori A; Capiluppi B; Balotta C; Papagno L; Morandini B; Di Pietro M; Ciuffreda D; Saracco A; Lazzarin A; Division of Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific; Institute, 20127 Milano, Italy. giuseppe.tambussi@hsr.it

Abstract: This analysis involves 22 patients with diagnosed symptomatic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Neurologic symptoms were present in 11 patients, ranging from severe and persistent headache to clinical signs suggestive of meningitis. A strong correlation between neurological symptoms and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) viral load was found. The mean CSF HIV ribonucleic acid (RNA) level was 4. 12 log for patients with neurological symptoms and 2.58 log for patients without neurological symptoms (P<.00001). Plasma viral load alone does not correlate or predict central nervous system (CNS) involvement. In our sample of patients, HIV RNA levels could be detected in most patients regardless of the presence of neurological symptoms. Moreover, early treatment including drugs with high levels of penetration in the CNS must be considered for patients with primary HIV infection.

Keywords: JOURNAL ARTICLE Central Nervous System Viral Diseases/IMMUNOLOGY/*PHYSIOPATHOLOGY/ *VIROLOGY Human HIV Infections/IMMUNOLOGY/*PHYSIOPATHOLOGY/*VIROLOGY HIV-1/GENETICS/ISOLATION & PURIF/*PHYSIOLOGY Polymerase Chain Reaction RNA, Viral/BLOOD/*CEREBROSPINAL FLUID Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Viral Load

KWDjournalarticlecentralnervoussystemviraldiseases/immunology/KWDphysiopathology/KWDvirologyhumanhivinfections/immunology/KWDphysiopathology/KWDvirologyhiv-1/genetics/isolation&purif/KWDphysiologypolymerasechainreactionrna,viral/blood/KWDcerebrospinalfluidsupport,non-uKWDsKWDgov'tviralload
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