title: Subacute encephalomyelitis of AIDS and its relation to HTLV-III infection.
abstract: Subacute encephalitis, characterized by demyelination, gliosis of the gray and white matter, focal necrosis, microglial nodules, atypical oligodendrocyte nuclei, and multinucleation of cells, was present in 27 of 30 (90%) autopsied patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex. Subacute encephalitis was mainly distributed in the frontal (58%) and temporal (69%) lobes, basal ganglia (77%), amygdala (80%), and hippocampus (64%). Ten (37%) with moderate or severe subacute encephalitis were demented; 82% with mild subacute encephalitis had no recognized neurologic disorder. Human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III) was isolated from neural tissue or CSF in 11 of 13 patients, 10 with subacute encephalitis, and 1 without CNS lesions. We conclude that subacute encephalitis is common in AIDS patients and is most likely caused by CNS infection with HTLV-III.
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005911:Gliosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000473:pathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology