title: Cerebral proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in asymptomatic HIV infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) demonstrates central nervous system abnormalities in asymptomatic HIV-1-infected individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both prospective and retrospective cross-sectional analyses of MRS in asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two specialists HIV/AIDS outpatient facilities in London.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four HIV-1 seropositive asymptomatic men; 29 HIV-1 antibody-negative homosexual men at high-risk for HIV infection and 48 HIV-1 antibody-negative men at low-risk for HIV infection as controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single voxel, gradient-localized proton MRS performed at 1.5 T with 135 msec echo-time and 1,600 msec repeat-time in an 8 ml volume of interest positioned in the parieto-occipital white matter. Spectroscopic results were expressed as ratios between the areas under the N-acetyl (NA), creatine (Cr) and choline (Cho) resonance peaks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no differences between those controls at high and those at low-risk for HIV infection. Comparing the combined control groups with the asymptomatic seropositive patients there were statistically significant differences in NA/Cho, NA/Cr (both P < 0.05) and NA/(NA + Cho + Cr) (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormalities in cerebral biochemistry may be demonstrated by proton MRS during asymptomatic HIV-1 infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, Middlesex Hospital, University College London Hospitals, NHS Trust, UK.
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Miszkiel
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Paley
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hall-Craggs
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baldeweg
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Catalan
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Chinn
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015215:Zidovudine