Increased cerebrospinal fluid protein tau concentration in neuro-AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
Assessment of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of protein tau in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection.


METHODS
CSF tau levels were analyzed in 52 HIV-1-infected patients, 37 of whom had no neurological symptoms, eight had aquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) dementia complex (ADC), and seven had AIDS with other neurological complications.


RESULTS
A significantly higher mean CSF tau concentration was found in patients with ADC (380 pg/ml) compared with patients with neuroasymptomatic HIV-1 infection (120 pg/ml, P<0.01) and HIV-negative controls (150 pg/ml, P<0.05). No difference in CSF tau levels was found between patients with ADC and patients with AIDS with other neurological complications.


CONCLUSIONS
CSF tau might be used as a biochemical marker for axonal degeneration and might be of use to identify HIV-1-infected patients with ADC and other neurological complications, but it cannot discriminate between ADC and other neurological complications in HIV-1-infection.
Andersson
L
L
Institute of Internal Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Göteborg University, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, S-416 85, Göteborg, Sweden. lars-magnus.andersson@medfak.gu.se
Blennow
K
K
Fuchs
D
D
Svennerholm
B
B
Gisslén
M
M
D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019798:Neopterin / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016875:tau Proteins; D019798:Neopterin