DOES FERRITIN HAVE A ROLE IN THE CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF PATIENTS WITHAIDS DEMENTIA COMPLEX

The aim of the present study was to analyze the presence of ferritin i n the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with AIDS Dementia Complex (ADC) and the possible correlation with the disease progression. Thir ty patients with ADC, classified in various stages, were studied. Twen ty HIV antibody-negative subjects with other non-inflammatory neurolog ical diseases (OIND) were recruited as a control group. Ferritin was d etected in both CSF and serum, and CSF ferritin was present in all CSF of ADC patients (range 11-420 ng/ml) but in no CSF of the controls. Fe rritin levels were more increased in both CSF and serum of patients wi th advanced stages of ADC than with initial and intermediate stages (p <0.01, and p<0.05, respectively). There was also a significant correla tion between CSF and serum ferritin levels (r=0.780; p<0.001), while n o correlation was found between blood brain barrier (BBB) indexes or o ther CSF variables and ferritin levels in ADC patients. Our data indic ate that CSF ferritin could be a possible marker of progression in ADC , which may occur intrathecally, probably from activated macrophages f rom the central nervous system (CNS).