Vitamin B12 deficiency and nervous system disease in HIV infection.
BACKGROUND
Vitamin B12 deficiency may result in a number of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection may have a high rate of vitamin B12 deficiency and nervous system disease. Vitamin B12 deficiency may contribute to neurological disease in HIV-1-infected individuals.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possible contribution of vitamin B12 deficiency to neurological disease in HIV-1-infected individuals.


METHODS
Comparison of serum vitamin B12 levels with neurological, neuropsychological, and mood state abnormalities in 153 HIV-1-positive subjects and 57 high-risk seronegative controls. A subgroup of 67 subjects underwent additional extensive clinical neurophysiological, cerebrospinal fluid, and magnetic resonance imaging evaluations.


RESULTS
No statistically significant relationships were noted between vitamin B12 levels and abnormalities on any of the measures examined.


CONCLUSIONS
This study does not indicate an important role for vitamin B12 deficiency in the neurological disease of HIV-1 infection.
Robertson
K R
KR
AIDS Neurological Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7025.
Stern
R A
RA
Hall
C D
CD
Perkins
D O
DO
Wilkins
J W
JW
Gortner
D T
DT
Donovan
M K
MK
Messenheimer
J A
JA
Whaley
R
R
Evans
D L
DL
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology
D014805:Vitamin B 12