Concentrations of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA in cerebrospinal fluid after antiretroviral treatment initiated during primary HIV-1 infection

In 6 patients with primary human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infe ction, concentrations of HIV-1 RNA and beta (2)-microglobulin were monitore d in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and in plasma during antiretroviral therapy. Four patients had neurological symptoms. At baseline, the CSF of 5 patient s had detectable levels of HIV-1 RNA (median, 3.68 log(10) copies/mL; range , <2.60-5.67 log(10) copies/mL), and the CSF of 3 patients had elevated lev els of <beta>(2)-microglobulin. After 8 weeks of treatment, the median conc entrations of HIV-1 RNA in CSF had decreased to <2.60 log(10) copies/mL (ra nge, <1.60-3.00 log(10) copies/mL; P=.04) and in plasma to 3.07 log(10) cop ies/mL (range, 2.57-3.79 log(10) copies/mL; P=.03). Median concentration of beta (2)-microglobulin CSF had decreased to 1.2 mg/L (range, 0.9-1.7 mg/ L ; P=.06) and, in plasma, to 1.7 mg/L (range, 1.1-2.2 mg/L; P=.03). After 48 weeks, HIV-1 RNA concentrations in 1 patient were still 1.97 log(10) copie s/mL in CSF and 1.51 log(10) copies/mL in plasma, although beta (2)-microgl obulin concentrations in CSF and plasma had normalized after 8 weeks.