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Current Infectious Disease Reports
Published in: Current Infectious Disease Reports 12/2017

01-12-2017 | Central Nervous System Infections (K Bloch, Section Editor)

Neurological Complications of HIV Infection

Authors: Shelli Farhadian, Payal Patel, Serena Spudich

Published in: Current Infectious Disease Reports | Issue 12/2017

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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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Metadata
Title
Neurological Complications of HIV Infection
Authors
Shelli Farhadian
Payal Patel
Serena Spudich
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Current Infectious Disease Reports / Issue 12/2017
Print ISSN: 1523-3847
Electronic ISSN: 1534-3146
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11908-017-0606-5
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