Altered neurometabolite development in HIV-infected children: correlation with neuropsychological tests.

Background: HIV-infected children have abnormal cerebral metabolites, measured by proton MR spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS), but how these abnormalities relate to brain function is unclear.

Methods: Metabolite concentrations in five brain regions of 20 HIV-infected and 13 control children were measured, and these findings were correlated with age, log(10) plasma viral load, CD4 count, and neuropsychological scores.

Results: Compared with control subjects, HIV patients had decreased choline concentration [Cho] in left frontal white matter (LFW) (-12%; p = 0.