title: [The virus of human immunodeficiency: virological characteristics, natural history and physiopathology of the nervous system infection].
abstract: Three phases are recognized in the natural history of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV): (a)an early or acute phase lasting several weeks, (b) an intermittent or chronic phase, with active low-grade viral replication, lasting several years and (c) the final stage or crisis, which corresponds to the clinical phase of AIDS. The virus may enter the nervous system at the time of seroconversion. However the clinical picture of dementia appears later, when there is marked immunodeficiency. HIV enters the nervous system carried in the macrophages, and usually infects the microglia but not the neurons. The physiopathology of dementia is not well known. It is thought that neuronal dysfunction may be mediated by viral proteins and cytokines synthetized by the infected cells and toxic to the neurones.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Clinic i Provincial, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vidal-Lampurdanés
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pumarola-Suñé
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology*; D015703:Antigens, CD; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology*; D006678:HIV / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
vernacular_title: Virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana: características virológicas, historia natural y fisiopatogenia de la infección del sistema nervioso.