Virologic Markers of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Infected Children

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Abstract
To identify virologic correlates associated with central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-l), cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was examined for virologic markers and correlated with neurodevelopmental status and neuroimaging abnormalities. Of 30 children, 18 (60%) had at least 1 culture-positive CSF sample; in total, 21 (55%) of 38 CSF specimens were culture-positive. CSF white blood cell counts were higher in specimens that were culture-positive (P = .01). HIV-l RNA was detected in 90% of CSF samples, and RNA levels > 10,000 copies/mL were found in 6 (75%) of 8 children with severe neurocognitive impairment (P = .08) and 11 (73%) of 15 children with a cognitive index ⩽85 (P = .04). Higher RNA levels were associated with abnormal brain imaging scans (P = .04) and with neurocognitive deficits (P = .04). Thus, HIV-1 is present within the CNS of most infected children, and neurocognitive impairment appears to be associated with increased HIV-1 replication.

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