title: The neuropathology of HIV-infected African children in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
abstract: In an autopsy study of HIV-infected children in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, the neuropathology of 76 HIV-1- and 2 HIV-2-positive children was compared with that of 77 frequency-matched HIV-negative children, in whom the systemic pathology was also known. Seventy of the 78 HIV-seropositive children were confirmed as HIV-infected, as determined by combined serology, IgA Western blots and clinicopathological criteria. The HIV-negative children showed a high background level (n = 49, 64%) of neuropathological abnormalities, including nonspecific inflammatory infiltrates, micromineralization, and bacterial and lymphocytic meningitis. In the HIV-positive children, HIV encephalitis was found in 4 (6%), cytomegalovirus in 2 (3%), toxoplasmosis in 3 (4%) and measles encephalitis in one (1%). Bacterial meningitis was equally common in both groups, but cerebral malaria was less common (n = 2, 3%) in HIV-positive than in HIV-negative children (n = 11, 14%). The low prevalence of HIV encephalitis may reflect comparatively early death in HIV infection in Africa as compared with our experience in Europe and the US.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lowrie
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koffi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hondé
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andoh
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: De Cock
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lucas
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D007560:Cote d'Ivoire / Q000453:epidemiology; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000209:etiology; D015497:HIV-1; D015498:HIV-2; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant