title: [Pathology of the central nervous system in AIDS. An overview of 184 patients].
abstract: Based on a consecutive autopsy series of 184 patients with AIDS, a critical review of the pathology of the central nervous system (CNS) is given. The lesions can be divided into three groups: 1. opportunistic/non-opportunistic infections, 2. changes due to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and 3. neoplasms. The frequency and morphology of CNS lesions in our cohort are compared with those in other series. Marked lesions of the CNS were found in 111 patients (60%), while mild/nonspecific changes were seen in 52 cases (28%). Toxoplasmosis (23%) was the most frequent CNS infection, followed by cytomegalovirus (17%), and papovirus (5%). HIV giant cell encephalitis, HIV leukoencephalopathy, vacuolar myelopathy and leukoencephalopathy were observed in 11%. Primary CNS lymphomas were present in 6%, while secondary involvement of the CNS in systemic lymphomas was seen in only two cases (1%). Lesions due to CNS infections in patients with AIDS often show atypical patterns, and frequently, there are multiple infections with simultaneous involvement of the CNS by lesions of different etiology. The present study confirms the frequent involvement of the CNS in AIDS, although there are differences in the incidence and pattern of lesions related to geographic and/or demographic factors.
authors.affiliation: Pathologisch-Bakteriologisches Institut des Psychiatrischen Krankenhauses Baumgartner Höhe, Wien.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drlicek
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Liszka
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wondrusch
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jellinger
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lintner
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grisold
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Casati
mesh_terms: D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000473:pathology*; D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000473:pathology*; D001317:Austria; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology
vernacular_title: Pathologie des Zentralnervensystems bei AIDS. Ein Uberblick über 184 Patienten.