LEVELS OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 RNA IN CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID CORRELATE WITH AIDS DEMENTIA STAGE

The relationship between the presence and severity of AIDS dementia co mplex (ADC) and the levels of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV -1) RNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were assessed. Nineteen patients with ADC (stages 1-3), 6 without ADC (group 1), and 10 (group 2) witho ut ADC but with cryptococcal meningitis or progressive multifocal leuk oencephalopathy were studied. There was a significant relationship bet ween increasing CSF virus burden and ADC severity (P =.0006) but not w ith plasma burden and ADC severity. In group 2, CSF HIV-1 RNA levels i n patients with cryptococcal meningitis were elevated. These results s how that CSF HIV-1 RNA concentrations correlate well with ADC severity but may also be increased by central nervous system infections, such as cryptococcal meningitis.