AIDS dementia complex: evaluation with proton MR spectroscopic imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate cerebral metabolic changes in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome dementia complex (ADC) with proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopic imaging and compare the findings with those of conventional MR imaging.


METHODS
Seven patients with ADC (all men; age range, 33-58 years; mean, 43 years) with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and seven age-matched volunteers without HIV infection underwent spectroscopic and conventional MR imaging.


RESULTS
Patient spectra were characterized by reduced levels of N-acetyl aspartate and increased levels of choline in white-matter regions. Lactate was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of five patients. Four patients with mild to moderate dementia had more extensive metabolic abnormalities than three patients with only mild neurocognitive changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Proton MR spectroscopic imaging shows extensive metabolic changes and is more sensitive than conventional MR imaging in the detection of central nervous system involvement in ADC.
Barker
P B
PB
Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Baltimore, Md.
Lee
R R
RR
McArthur
J C
JC
D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D007773:Lactates; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; C000179:N-acetylaspartate; D002794:Choline