POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION ON CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID FOR DIAGNOSIS OF VIRUS-ASSOCIATED OPPORTUNISTIC DISEASES OF THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM IN HIV-INFECTED PATIENTS

Objective: To assess the diagnostic reliability of polymerase chain re action (PCR) on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for virus-associated opportu nistic diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) in HIV-infected pa tients. Design: CSF samples from 500 patients with HIV infection and C NS symptoms were examined by PCR. In 219 patients the PCR results were compared with CNS histological findings. Methods: Nested PCR for dete ction of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 or 2, varicella tester viru s (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6), and JC virus (JCV) DNA. Histopathological examination of CNS tissue obtained at autopsy or on brain biopsy. Results: DNA of one or more viruses was found in CSF in 181 out of 500 patients (36%; HSV-1 2%, HSV-2 1%, VZV 3% CMV 16%, EBV 12%, HHV-6 2%, and JCV 9%). A mong the 219 patients with histological CNS examination, HSV-1 or 2 wa s detected in CSF in all six patients (100%) with HSV infection of the CNS, CMV in 37 out of 45 (82%) with CMV infection of the CNS, EBV in 35 out of 36 (97%) with primary CNS lymphoma, JCV in 28 out of 39 (72% ) with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Furthermore, HSV-1 was found in one, VZV in four, CMV in three, EBV in three, HHV-6 in se ven, and ICV in one patient without histological evidence of the corre sponding CNS disease. Conclusions: CSF PCR has great relevance for dia gnosis of virus-related opportunistic CNS diseases in HIV-infected pat ients as demonstrated by its high sensitivity, specificity, and the fr equency of positive findings.