DEEP GRAY-MATTER STRUCTURES IN HIV-INFECTION - A PROTON MR SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY

Citation
Dj. Meyerhoff et al., DEEP GRAY-MATTER STRUCTURES IN HIV-INFECTION - A PROTON MR SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY, American journal of neuroradiology, 17(5), 1996, pp. 973-978
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Clinical Neurology","Radiology,Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
ISSN journal
01956108
Volume
17
Issue
5
Year of publication
1996
Pages
973 - 978
Database
ISI
SICI code
0195-6108(1996)17:5<973:DGSIH->2.0.ZU;2-A
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on proton metabolites in brain regions carrying the heavies t HIV load. METHODS: We used two-dimensional proton MR spectroscopy wi th a preselected volume at the level of the third ventricle to measure N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) and metabolites containing choline (Cho), an d creatine (Cr) in the basal ganglia of eight cognitively impaired sub jects who were seropositive for HIV and eight control subjects who wer e seronegative for HIV. Results are expressed as metabolite ratios. RE SULTS: In the thalamus and lenticular nuclei, NAA/Cr was not different between the two groups. NAA/Cho was decreased in both the thalamus an d lenticular nuclei of the HIV-positive group compared with the HIV-ne gative group. Cho/Cr tended to be increased in both the thalamus and l enticular nuclei of the HIV-positive group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest no NAA differences between groups, consistent with negligible neuron loss in the region of the brain that carries the heaviest HIV l oad. The trends toward increased Cho/Cr are consistent with histopatho logic findings of infiltration of subcortical gray matter structures w ith foamy macrophages, microglia, and lymphocytes, or possibly with gl iosis.