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Neurological Complications of HIV Infection

  • Central Nervous System Infections (K Bloch, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are common in patients with HIV disease, even during suppressive combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). This review article addresses the pathogenesis of HAND, focusing on important findings from the last 5 years.

Recent Findings

While HIV-associated dementia is now rare in settings with cART availability, mild forms of HAND are increasing in prevalence. Biomarkers of cellular injury, such as neurofilament light chain and neopterin, can detect early stages of neuroinflammation associated with HIV infection and are increased even in asymptomatic individuals with chronic HIV infection. Several recent studies form a growing body of evidence that HIV can infect and replicate in monocytes and that blocking monocyte activity can potentially improve neurological outcomes in HIV. Early cART may also prevent HAND.

Summary

Understanding the multifactorial causes of CNS infection and inflammation is critical to devising treatment and preventive strategies for HAND.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Yale School of Medicine, 367 Cedar Street, ESH Building A, Rm 311, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA

    Shelli Farhadian

  2. Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Payal Patel

  3. Department of Neurology, Division of Neurological Infections and Global Neurology and Center for Neuroepidemiology and Clinical Neurological Research, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Serena Spudich

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  1. Shelli Farhadian
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Correspondence to Shelli Farhadian.

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Drs Farhadian, Patel, and Spudich declare no conflicts of interests.

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All reported studies/experiments with human or animal subjects performed by the authors have been previously published and complied with all applicable ethical standards.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Central Nervous System Infections

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Farhadian, S., Patel, P. & Spudich, S. Neurological Complications of HIV Infection. Curr Infect Dis Rep 19, 50 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-017-0606-5

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