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Cerebral atrophy in AIDS: a stereological study

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Summary

Stereological estimates of mean volumes, surface areas, and cortical thicknesses were obtained on formalin-fixed brains from 19 men with AIDS and 19 controls. Volumes of neocortex, white matter, central brain nuclei, ventricles and archicortex were estimated using point counting and Cavalieri's unbiased principle for volume estimation. In AIDS, the mean volume of neocortex was reduced by 11%, and that of the central brain nuclei by 18%. Mean ventricular volume was increased by 55%. Mean neocortical thickness was reduced by 12%. The mean volume of white matter was reduced by 13%. The findings in 6 clinically demented AIDS patients were not statistically different from the rest of the group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Denmark

    S. Oster & P. Christoffersen

  2. Department of Infectious disease, Hvidovre Hospital, DK-2650, Hvidovre, Denmark

    J. O. Nielsen & C. Pedersen

  3. Stereological Research Laboratory, Aarhus University, DK-8000, Aarhus, Denmark

    H. J. G. Gundersen

  4. Neurological Research Laboratory, Bartholin Institute, Kommunehospital, DK-1399, Copenhagen, Denmark

    B. Pakkenberg

Authors
  1. S. Oster
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  2. P. Christoffersen
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  3. H. J. G. Gundersen
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  4. J. O. Nielsen
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  5. B. Pakkenberg
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  6. C. Pedersen
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Supported by the Direktør Emil Hertz and wife Inger Hertz'Foundation, the Ferd. and Ellen Hindsgauls Foundation and Fonden for Neurologisk Forskning

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Oster, S., Christoffersen, P., Gundersen, H.J.G. et al. Cerebral atrophy in AIDS: a stereological study. Acta Neuropathol 85, 617–622 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334671

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00334671

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