DIAGNOSIS AND CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS CAUSED BYCYTOMEGALOVIRUS IN AIDS PATIENTS

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are common and severe complications o f HIV infection. The virus involves the nervous system, causing enceph alitis, polyradiculomyelitis and peripheral neuropathies, Due to their limited sensitivity, traditional virological approaches, such as viru s isolation or antigen detection in the CSF are useful only in limited instances, e.g. CMV polyradiculopathy. The aetiological diagnosis of these disorders relies on the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid by PCR a nd quantitative PCR may be important to establish the extent of CNS le sions and to monitor the efficacy of antiviral treatments, CMV is susc eptible to various antivirals, including ganciclovir, foscarnet and ci dofovir. CMV infections of the nervous system, in particular encephali tis, however, show only a poor response to standard treatments, Drug c ombination treatments i.e. ganciclovir plus foscarnet, are currently u nder evaluation in clinical trials.