CENTRAL BRAIN ATROPHY, IN CHILDHOOD AIDS ENCEPHALOPATHY

Objective: To determine differential patterns of brain atrophy in pedi atric AIDS encephalopathy. Design: We measured the bicaudate, bifronta l, and ventricle-brain ratio in brain magnetic resonance imaging scans of 42 control children, nine children with progressive AIDS encephalo pathy, 25 AIDS children without progressive encephalopathy, and 23 chi ldren with cerebral atrophy of other causes. Results: When compared wi th controls, encephalopathy patients showed significantly increased bi caudate and ventricle-brain ratios, but no significant increase in bif rontal ratio, whereas children with brain atrophy from causes other th an AIDS showed increases in all three ratios. Conclusion: Children wit h AIDS encephalopathy demonstrate a specific pattern of brain atrophy distinct from other etiologies: a central atrophy, primarily affecting the subcortical white matter or the basal ganglia regions.