Regional areas and widths of the midsagittal corpus callosum among HIV-infected patients on stable antiretroviral therapies

J Neurovirol. 2011 Aug;17(4):368-79. doi: 10.1007/s13365-011-0033-6. Epub 2011 May 10.

Abstract

Recent reports suggest that a growing number of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons show signs of persistent cognitive impairment even in the context of combination antiretroviral therapies (cART). The basis for this finding remains poorly understood as there are only a limited number of studies examining the relationship between CNS injury, measures of disease severity, and cognitive function in the setting of stable disease. This study examined the effects of HIV infection on cerebral white matter using quantitative morphometry of the midsagittal corpus callosum (CC) in 216 chronically infected participants from the multisite HIV Neuroimaging Consortium study currently receiving cART and 139 controls. All participants underwent MRI assessment, and HIV-infected subjects also underwent measures of cognitive function and disease severity. The midsagittal slice of the CC was quantified using two semi-automated procedures. Group comparisons were accomplished using ANOVA, and the relationship between CC morphometry and clinical covariates (current CD4, nadir CD4, plasma and CSF HIV RNA, duration of HIV infection, age, and ADC stage) was assessed using linear regression models. HIV-infected patients showed significant reductions in both the area and linear widths for several regions of the CC. Significant relationships were found with ADC stage and nadir CD4 cell count, but no other clinical variables. Despite effective treatment, significant and possibly irreversible structural loss of the white matter persists in the setting of chronic HIV disease. A history of advanced immune suppression is a strong predictor of this complication and suggests that antiretroviral intervention at earlier stages of infection may be warranted.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • AIDS Dementia Complex / blood
  • AIDS Dementia Complex / etiology
  • AIDS Dementia Complex / immunology
  • AIDS Dementia Complex / pathology*
  • AIDS Dementia Complex / virology
  • Adult
  • Anti-HIV Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active*
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cognition
  • Corpus Callosum / drug effects
  • Corpus Callosum / pathology*
  • Corpus Callosum / virology
  • Female
  • HIV / physiology*
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy
  • HIV Infections / immunology
  • HIV Infections / pathology*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / adverse effects
  • Linear Models
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuroimaging / methods*
  • RNA, Viral / blood
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Viral Load / physiology

Substances

  • Anti-HIV Agents
  • RNA, Viral