title: Prevalence and predictors of blood-brain barrier damage in the HAART era.
abstract: Blood-brain barrier damage (BBBD) is prevalent in HIV-positive patients and may enhance cell trafficking to the central nervous system. A retrospective analysis in adult HIV-positive patients with no central nervous system disease was conducted in order to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of BBBD (according to cerebrospinal fluid to plasma albumin ratios). One hundred fifty-eight HIV-positive adult patients were included. BBBD impairment and intrathecal IgG synthesis were respectively observed in 45 (28.5 %) and 100 patients (63.3 %). Low CD4 nadir and high CSF HIV RNA were independently associated with both abnormalities. BBBD is common in HIV-positive patients, and its main determinants are advanced immune depression and compartmental viral replication.
authors: Unit of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Ospedale Amedeo di Savoia, C.so Svizzera 164, 10159, Torino, Italy, andrea.calcagno@unito.it.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Calcagno
authors: M C
authors: MC
authors: Alberione
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Romito
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Imperiale
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Ghisetti
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Audagnotto
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Lipani
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Raviolo
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Di Perri
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Bonora
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors