HIV lurking in cerebrospinal fluid related to thought problems

TUESDAY, July 16, 2019- (HealthDay News) Even with long-term treatment, HIV can still be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of some people with the virus causing AIDS, a new study reports.

And patients have an increased risk of having thought problems, say the researchers.

"It's hard to target the infections that are hiding in the brain and HIV is probably not an exception to the rule," said Dr. John Mellors, lead author of the study, responsible for the diseases infectious at the University of Pittsburgh.

"We have work to do in the quest for a cure for HIV, but know that it's half the battle, so I'm cautiously optimistic," he said in a statement. press release issued by the university.

The researchers badyzed the cerebrospinal fluid of 69 HIV-positive people on anti-HIV treatment for nine years on average. The study found that nearly half of the participants had cells containing HIV.

Of those who had HIV-positive cells in their cerebrospinal fluid, 30% met the criteria for thinking problems (cognitive impairment), compared to 11% of those without cells that had HIV in their cerebrospinal fluid.

The findings may help explain why people with well-controlled HIV may have problems with memory and concentration, as well as difficulty performing complex tasks, according to the researchers.

They also said that the results show that the brain is an important reservoir of HIV, a challenge to consider in clinical trials of potential treatments.

"I do not know of any infectious diseases that are easier to treat when they are in the brain than when they are elsewhere in the body," said Mellors.

The researchers noted that the study did not prove that the presence of HIV-positive cells in cerebrospinal fluid resulted in cognitive impairment. They could have several explanations for the results, they noted.

For example, it is possible that the level of initial HIV infection in the nervous system is higher in patients with HIV-bearing cells, or that mental problems started early in the course of infection with HIV. HIV, before starting anti-HIV treatment.

However, knowing the possible link between a well-controlled HIV infection and thinking problems may help doctors track patients who may need additional monitoring, Mellors said.

The study was published on July 15 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

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