White-Matter damage in Clade C HIV-positive subjects: a diffusion tensor imaging study

J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2011 Summer;23(3):308-15. doi: 10.1176/jnp.23.3.jnp308.

Abstract

The relationship between cognitive impairment and white-matter integrity in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains poorly understood, particularly in clade C. The authors utilized diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and a comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation to investigate the relationship between cognitive impairment and white-matter integrity in HIV-positive subjects with clade C HIV. Forty-four HIV-infected individuals and 10 seronegative subjects were compared, using a whole-brain, voxel-based approach to define fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusion (MD). Compared with healthy-control subjects, the HIV-infected group exhibited decreased FA in the corpus callosum, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and cingulum and sagittal stratum. This study provides evidence that white-matter integrity is compromised in individuals infected with clade C HIV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anisotropy
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Mapping
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Cognition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Cognition Disorders / etiology
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Leukoencephalopathies / etiology*
  • Leukoencephalopathies / pathology*
  • Male
  • Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / pathology*
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Young Adult