ASYMPTOMATIC AND NEUROLOGICALLY SYMPTOMATIC HIV-SEROPOSITIVE SUBJECTS- RESULTS OF LONG-TERM MR-IMAGING AND CLINICAL FOLLOW-UP

Cranial magnetic resonance (MR) images were prospectively obtained in 74 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive subjects, all of wh om had undergone MR imaging 24-42 months earlier. The images were inte rpreted by neuroradiologists blinded to the subject's clinical status and were compared with the initial MR images and clinical findings. Te n subjects had mild neurologic symptoms, with mildly abnormal unchange d images in five (50%). Sixty-four subjects were neurologically asympt omatic, with mildly abnormal images in 13 (20%), most of which remaine d unchanged. Chi2 analysis revealed a significant difference (P = .042 ) between the asymptomatic and symptomatic groups with regard to the n umber of subjects with abnormal follow-up images. The number of abnorm al images in the asymptomatic subjects was significantly less than tha t in the symptomatic subjects. During follow-up of 2-3 1/2 years, most asymptomatic subjects had persistently normal MR images. When abnorma l, the imaging abnormalities were usually static and minor.