HIV-1 infection and nervous system abnormalities among a cohort of intravenous drug users.
A group of 109 HIV seropositive and 51 seronegative intravenous drug users was evaluated for the presence of HIV-1-related neurologic disease using clinical, neurologic, neuropsychological, and electrophysiologic evaluations. About 80% of HIV seropositive subjects had less than two constitutional symptoms. CD4 cell counts were less than 500/mm3 among 56% of seropositive participants; three individuals were receiving zidovudine. Neurologic abnormalities were found frequently among the cohort, independently of HIV-1 serostatus; electrophysiologic abnormalities were uncommon. Participants from both serologic groups scored significantly lower on neuropsychological tests as compared with norms established for a cohort of homosexual men, and there was no clear association between HIV-1 serostatus and performance on these tests. This study suggests that HIV infection was not the dominant cause of neurologic abnormalities among the study cohort.
Royal
W
W
Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
Updike
M
M
Selnes
O A
OA
Proctor
T V
TV
Nance-Sproson
L
L
Solomon
L
L
Vlahov
D
D
Cornblath
D R
DR
McArthur
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology