title: [New spectrum of HIV-associated cognitive disorders in the HAART era].
abstract: Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has almost abolished HIV-related mortality and serious opportunistic diseases; among them, AIDS-related dementia. However, minor forms of cognitive dysfunction, have not disappeared, and even increased in frequency. Ageing of HIV+ patients, insufficient penetration of anti-viral drugs into the brain with continuous low-grade viral production and inflammation may play a role. Minor cognitive dysfunction in HIV infection shares some clinical and pathophysiological features with neuro-degenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimers disease. It can thus be postulated that, such in Alzheimer disease, anti-cholinesterase drugs might also be efficacious in AIDS-related minor cognitive dysfunction. This hypothesis has not been tested yet however A clinical trial using ravistigmine is starting this spring in patients with HIV-associated cognitive dysfunction in Geneva and Lausanne.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurologie, CHUV, Lausanne.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Du Pasquier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavassini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simioni
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Annoni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giacobini
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hirschel
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans