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Neocortical damage during HIV infection
Author(s) -
Wiley Clayton A.,
Masliah Eliezer,
Morey Mitchel,
Lemere Cindy,
DeTeresa Richard,
Grafe Marjorie,
Hansen Lawrence,
Terry Robert
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410290613
Subject(s) - neocortex , neuropil , central nervous system , encephalitis , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , pathological , biology , neuroscience , pathology , virus , immunology , medicine
Clinical and pathologicals evidence of subcortical central nervous system (CNS) damage is observed commonly in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encephalitis. Whether other CNS regions are also affected has not been well studied. We report neocortical damage in patients with HIV encephalitis. Using quantitative techniques, we demonstrate statistically significant thinning of the neocortex, with a loss of large cortical neurons. Qualitative and quantitative assessments of neocortical neuropil reveal a loss of synaptic density and vacuolation of dendritic processes. Failure to demonstrate an association of these changes with the presence of HIV antigens suggests that neocortical damage may be an indirect effect of HIV infection of the CNS.