Aronow H, Keilp JG, Krol G, Brew BJ, Sadler AE, Dorfman D, Sidtis JJ, Birnhak L, Rottenberg DA, Price RW; International Conference on AIDS.
Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9; 5: 458 (abstract no. Th.B.P.257).
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between cerebral atrophy, assessed by computerized tomographic (CT) head scans, and neurological and neuropsychological impairment in HIV-1-infected patients. METHODS: 34 patients (age less than 50) received a total of 42 CT scans in the context of clinical evaluation. Patients were examined neurologically, staged with respect to the severity of the AIDS dementia complex (ADC), and received neuropsychological tests. Using a set of predefined "standards", scans were assigned numerical ratings corresponding to normal, mild, moderate, or severe with regard to sulcal, ventricular, and Sylvian fissure enlargement. Ratings were summed to derive an overall index of atrophy. RESULTS: Cerebral atrophy increased significantly with increasing ADC (p less than .05); moderate to severely demented patients had significantly greater atrophy than equivocally or mildly demented patients (p less than .05). Atrophy correlated with the following neuropsychological tests: Trial Making A (p=.03) and B (p less than .01), Digit Symbol (p less than .01), Verbal Learning (p less than .01), and Timed Gait (p=.02). CONCLUSIONS: Mild cerebral atrophy may be seen in patients without clear functional neurological impairment, while more severe atrophy correlates with progressive ADC and worsening neuropsychological performance.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- AIDS Dementia Complex
- Atrophy
- Brain Diseases
- HIV-1
- Humans
- Neurodegenerative Diseases
- Neuropsychological Tests
Other ID:
UI: 102178267
From Meeting Abstracts