Human immunodeficiency virus and the central nervous system

TitleHuman immunodeficiency virus and the central nervous system
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
Authorsde Almeida, SM, Letendre, S, Ellis, RJ
JournalThe Brazilian Journal of Infectious Diseases: An Official Publication of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases
Volume10
Pagination41-50
Date Published2006
KeywordsAIDS-Related Complex, Anti-Retroviral Agents, Central Nervous System Viral Diseases, Chemokines, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Humans, Internal, Meningitis, Middle Aged, Risk Factors, Viral, Viral Load
Abstract

The pandemic of HIV/AIDS continues to grow daily. Incident cases among women, intravenous drug users and ethnic minorities comprise the fastest growing segment of the HIV-infected population, and the number of HIV-infected individuals over the age of 50 is growing rapidly. Today, the central nervous system and the immune system are seen as main targets of HIV infection. Significant progress in the knowledge and treatment of AIDS has been obtained in recent years. The neurological manifestations directly related to HIV are acute viral meningitis, chronic meningitis, HIV-associated dementia (HAD), vacuolar myelopathy, and involvement of the peripheral nervous system.

URLhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16767315